Supreme Court flags hawala funds in ‘bogus’ political parties

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court Friday sought responses from Centre and Election Commission on a PIL seeking framing of rules for registration and regulation of political parties, alleging that some obscure outfits receive huge donations through hawala channels and return the money by cheque after keeping a 20% commission.
Abench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi issued notices to Centre, EC and Law Commission on the PIL filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay but told him to include the national political parties as parties to the petition. “It will not be proper to pass any order without getting the views of national political parties on this issue,” the bench said.

The petitioner cited I-T raids in the offices of two little known political parties – Indian Social Party and Yuva Bharat Atma Nirbhar Dal – on July 13 and alleged recovery of Rs 500 crore unaccounted money. “Both parties were formed to take donations in cash through Hawala and to return money through cheque after deducting 20% commission,” he alleged.

Upadhyay said on Aug 12 a similar raid on ‘National Sarva Samaj Party’ revealed its activities in converting black money into white by deducting 20% commission and through this modus operandi amassing of Rs 271 crore.

“These parties never contest polls but collect thousands of crores in cash and refund it to donor after deducting commission… Many separatists have formed their party to collect donations. Some office bearers have managed to get police protection too,” the petitioner said.
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