Source:
daily bhaskar.com
http://daily.bhaskar.com/article-ht/NAT-TOP-violation-of-foreign-contribution-act-delhi-high-court-rules-vedanta-donations-t-4563935-NOR.html
Date:
29.03.2014
City:
New Delhi
New Delhi: Terming donations received by the Bjpand the Congress between 2004 and 2012 from the London Listed mining company Vedanta as illegal, the Delhi High Court ruled on Friday that both the mainstream political parties violated existing laws which bar them (and all other political units) from accepting foreign offerings.
It comes as a shocker for both the parties who have frequently alleged Aap about receiving foreign donations for political canvassing.
Both the political parties received donations from the hands of Sterlite Industries India and Sesa Goa, two companies then registered in India, but Vedanta controlled their shareholding pattern. Both the companies were merged by the Vedanta into one entity last year.
As per the data produced in the court by the petitioner Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) thatRs. 87.9 million was donated in total to Congress between 2004 and 2012. Sesa Goa donated 14.2 million rupees to the BJP over the same period.
An investigation has been ordered by the honorable court in this regard directing the home ministry and election commission to begin work in this regard. The court also asked them to look into other cases of similar kind as well, and act within six months.
Offender can be prosecuted under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and jailed for up to three years for violating the laws on foreign donations.
