Some of the top donors bought bonds while facing ED and I-T probes

Among the five donors that purchased electoral bonds between 2019 and 2024, three companies were under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax Department.

These include lottery company Future infrastructure Gaming, firm Megha Engineering and mining giant Vedanta, according to a report in the Indian Express. The second largest donor to political parties turned out to be Hyderabad-based Megha

Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL). Run by Krishna Reddy, the company bought bonds worth Rs. 1,000 crore between 2019 and 2024. The firm is involved in projects of the Telangana government such as the Kaleswaram Dam project. It is also building the Zojila tunnel and the Polavaram dam, the report said.

In October 2019, the I-T department carried raids at the offices of the company.

The ED also started its investigations soon after

As per the report, the MEIL purchased poll bonds worth Rs. 50 crore in April that year.

Another company facing a probe is the Vedanta Group, backed by industrialist Anil Aggarwal. The mining giant is the fifth largest donor having purchased bonds worth Rs. 376 crore.

The Vedanta Group is under ED scanner over alleged involvement in the bribe-for-visa case that involved certain Chinese nationals being given visas by alleged bending of rules.

India's mining and steel companies like Rungta Sons Pvt Ltd, Jindal Steel and Power, Essel Mining and Industries Limited (EMIL) and Dempo were also big time purchasers of bonds, according to the data made public by the Election Commission of India.