Electoral bonds: Sena, BJP major beneficiaries of Pune-based donors, shows SBI data

BG Shirke is a major construction company that executed several high-budget projects of the state government including an order to construct mid-income group (MIG) and high-income group (HIG) flats under MHADA at Rs 170.64 crore as well as20,448 flats under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) in the state.

The Pune Mula Mutha Riverside Rejuvenation Project contract had also been awarded to BG Shirke in April 2023. The project, which involved improving the river’s banks, was put out to tender by the municipality’s Environment Department for a budget of Rs 320 crore.

As per the data, the firm had bought bonds worth Rs 118.5 crore in six different tranches between May 2019 and January 2024. The bonds were encashed by four different parties. The first tranche of the bonds worth Rs 1.5 crore were purchased by the firm on May 10 2019 in the thick of the Lok Sabha election of which Rs 1 crore went to AAP and Rs 50 lakh to BJP.

In January 25, 2023 the firm bought electoral bonds worth Rs 15 crore, and on April 6, another tranche worth Rs 15 crore. The total amount went to BJP. On October 12, 2013, the firm bought electoral bonds worth Rs 2 crore which were donated to the Congress. On July 12 and October 12, 2023, the firm purchased bonds worth Rs 25 crore and Rs 35 crore respectively. On January 10, 2024 the firm purchased bonds worth Rs 25 crore. All three of these amounts were given to Shiv Sena.

Other donors

Bajaj Auto Limited had purchased electoral bonds of Rs 18 crore. AAP had redeemed bonds worth Rs 8 crore while the BJP had redeemed the rest. Another Bajaj company, Bajaj Finance — which deals in insurance and other financial instruments — had purchased bonds worth Rs 19 crore, all of which were redeemed by the BJP. Another Rs 10 crore was redeemed by the BJP, which were purchased by Bajaj Investments Limited.

Nashik headquartered Sula Vineyards Limited — which is India’s largest and only listed winery — had purchased bonds worth Rs 25 lakh, all of which were redeemed by Shiv Sena. Another Pune based company Force Motors, which makes off road vehicles, had purchased electoral bonds worth Rs 6.35 crore, all of which were redeemed by BJP. Finolex Cables had purchased bonds worth Rs 20 crore, of which Rs 2 crore was redeemed by Congress and the rest was redeemed by BJP.