Electoral Bonds: Lottery king Santiago Martin's Future Gaming, Megha Engineering among top donors for DMK

Lottery king Santiago Martin's Future Gaming and Services and Megha Engineering have been marked as top donors for DMK in the new list released by 11 recognised political parties who disclosed the names of their Electoral Bonds' donors along with the corresponding contribution amounts. Other parties have provided a date-wise listing of the value of Electoral Bonds they encashed.

DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), ADMK (ll India Anna Diavida Munnettia Kazhagam), SDF (Sikkim Democratic Front), JDS (Janata Dal Secular), JKNC (Jammu and Kashmir National Conference), Maharashtrawadi Gomtak Party, Goa (MGP Goa), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Samajwadi Party, National Congress Party (NCP), Janata Dal (United) have included the names of donors and the amounts they contributed.

Reportedly, top donors for DMK are Future Gaming and Services and Megha Engineering. ADMK received Rs 6.05 crore, with Rs 5 crore from Chennai Super Kings. JDS received Rs 50 crore from MEIL. J&K NC got Rs 50 lakh from Bharti Group. SDF received Rs 50 lakh from Alembic Pharma. MGP Goa received Rs 55 lakh from VM Salgaoncar. San Beverages, SK Traders, and BS Traders were the top donors for the Samajwadi Party. JDU's donors were Bharti Airtel and Shree Cement. And, AAP received Rs 3 crore from Bajaj Group and Rs 1 crore from Torrent Pharmaceuticals.

The Election Commission of India (ECI), on March 17, released fresh information on electoral bonds, disclosing the amount redeemed by each political party.  This data, obtained in digital format from the Supreme Court's registry, has been uploaded to the ECI's website. The poll panel stated that political parties had submitted data on Electoral Bonds in sealed covers as per the Supreme Court's interim order dated April 12, 2019. These details pertain to the period preceding April 12, 2019.