India unveils data on now-banned election bonds ahead of poll dates

NEW DELHI/BENGALURU -- India's Election Commission has released a list of political donors under a political bonds program recently deemed "unconstitutional," just before an announcement of the country's general election dates.

Among the prominent companies on the list are big pharmaceutical groups Dr. Reddy's Laboratories and Sun Pharma; mining conglomerate Vedanta; and major telecom player Bharti Airtel. Lesser-known lottery company Future Gaming and Hotel Services was the largest donor, having secured bonds worth about 13.7 billion rupees ($165.3 million) from April 2019 to January 2024. The data does not connect the donors with specific parties.