BJP’s Donations from 30 More Corporate Companies and the Link to CA Actions

Over Rs 335 crore donated to the BJP between 2018-19 and 2022-23, with significant allegations of ties between political donations and central agency actions.

Between the financial years 2018-19 and 2022-23, at least 30 companies collectively donated nearly Rs 335 crore to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These donations have sparked intense scrutiny, as many of the companies involved also faced action from central agencies (CAs), such as the Enforcement Directorate, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Income Tax (I-T) Department, during the same period.

Of the 30 companies, 23 had never donated to the BJP before this period, collectively contributing Rs 187.58 crore during these years. Alarmingly, four companies contributed a total of Rs 9.05 crore within just four months of being raided by central agencies. This raises questions about the connection between the companies’ financial support to the BJP and the timing of the raids.

Additionally, six companies that had previously donated to the party in earlier years donated larger sums in the months following central agency visits, further raising suspicions. Another six firms that had donated annually to the BJP skipped their donations for one year but faced action from central agencies soon after.

While these companies were not exclusively linked to the BJP, three of them, not part of the 30-donor group, were accused of receiving undue favors from the Union government. The analysis, conducted by Newslaundry and The News Minute through Election Commission records and case files, found that in some cases, donations were made either during or after raids, or the companies received favorable licenses or clearances from the government.

This pattern highlights the growing concerns over the opacity of political funding, especially with the introduction of the electoral bonds scheme in 2018 by the Modi government, which was intended to offer anonymity to political donations. The scheme has faced significant criticism for potentially enabling quid pro quo arrangements, with the Supreme Court striking it down on February 15, 2025, citing concerns over lack of transparency.

Further complicating the situation is the fact that the BJP has benefited immensely from electoral trusts, accounting for over 70 percent of the total donations received through these trusts in 2022-23. This raises additional questions about the flow of money into the party and the extent of its connections with various businesses, particularly those under investigation by central agencies.

The connection between company donations to the BJP and the subsequent or simultaneous central agency action is indicative of a broader issue. Accusations of political funding being used as a form of “extortion” have been increasingly voiced, especially when viewed in light of these findings.

This report illustrates a trend of possible linkages between political donations and government actions against companies, casting doubt on the transparency of India’s political funding system.