The BJP received a major share of Rs 52 crore worth electoral bonds purchased by one of the approvers in the Delhi liquor policy case, the latest data released by the Election Commission revealed. The bonds were purchased by Aurobindo Pharma, the company of Sarath Chandra Reddy, who was arrested in the liquor policy case in November 2022 and turned approver next year.
The latest bond data revealed that between April 2021 and November 2023, Aurobindo Pharma purchased electoral bonds amounting to Rs 52 crore. The data indicates that 66 per cent of these bonds were directed towards the BJP, with 29 per cent being cashed by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the remaining portion by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
The data further revealed that of the Rs 52 crore bonds, Rs 5 crore were purchased five days after Sarath Reddy’s arrest in 2022. He was arrested on November 10, 2022, and the bonds were bought by Aurobindo Pharma on November 15, 2022. This Rs 5 crore, as revealed by the latest data, was redeemed by the BJP on November 21, 2022.
In June 2023, a Delhi court permitted Sarath Reddy, who is currently the non-executive director of Aurobindo Pharma, to act as an approver in the liquor policy case. Additionally, the court extended a pardon to Reddy in the case.
On Saturday, AAP leader and Delhi Education Minister Atishi mentioned Sarath Reddy’s electoral bond payments, implying that the Enforcement Directorate was acting at the behest of the ruling BJP.
She said that the “money trail”, which the probe agency specified in its case against arrested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, actually went to the BJP via electoral bonds.
The Enforcement Directorate previously asserted that Sarath Reddy was implicated in the liquor industry, allegedly colluding with business figures and politicians linked to the case, and engaging in unfair market practices to exploit the now-scrapped liquor policy.
The latest bond data revealed that between April 2021 and November 2023, Aurobindo Pharma purchased electoral bonds amounting to Rs 52 crore. The data indicates that 66 per cent of these bonds were directed towards the BJP, with 29 per cent being cashed by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the remaining portion by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
Data shows that 57 per cent of the Rs 52 crore in electoral bonds were acquired between November 2022 and November 2023.
Aurobindo Pharma is one of the leading pharmaceutical firms in the nation. Its revenue surpassed Rs 24,000 crore in 2023.
According to the prosecution complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate, Vijay Nair, the communication in-charge of AAP, purportedly received kickbacks totalling Rs 100 crore from a group, referred to as the ‘South Group’, based on statements from various people recorded during the investigation.
Sarath Reddy was previously implicated in association with this group.
The Enforcement Directorate asserted that these kickbacks were provided in advance to AAP leaders through Vijay Nair by the ‘South Group’, as part of an agreement between the group and AAP leaders.
The arrangement aimed to secure unhindered access, undue favours, and stakes in established wholesale businesses and multiple retail zones, surpassing what was permissible under the liquor policy.
Aurobindo Pharma has a global presence in 150 countries, 90 per cent of its revenue comes from international ventures.
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