Contempt plea filed in Supreme Court against SBI for not disclosing electoral bonds

The contempt plea was filed against Khera for seeking time till June 30 to disclose the electoral bonds.

The top court had directed the SBI to disclose the bonds by March 6.

The Election Commission of India was ordered to publish the details of the electoral bonds in its official website by March 13.

However, in an application in the Supreme Court, the nationalised bank said it needed more time- till June end- to furnish details of the electoral bonds.

Taking a dig, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh posted on X, "The game of hide and seek in New India: The country is searching, Modi is hiding."

"SBI's 'Pradhan Mantri Donation Hide Scheme' is based on lies," he added. 

In a historic judgment, the Supreme Court, last month, struck down the electoral bonds scheme, stating that it violated citizens' right to information.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud had said that the electoral bonds scheme was unconstitutional and arbitrary and may lead to a quid pro quo arrangement between political parties and donors.

The Constitution bench of five judges held that the stated objective of fighting black money and maintaining the confidentiality of donors cannot defend the scheme.

Electoral bonds, the court said, are not the only way to curb black money.