'Foreign' funding to Congress, BJP: PIL transferred to another bench

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today transferred to another bench the PIL seeking a probe against Congress and BJP alleging that they received fundings from UK-based Vedanta Resources in violation of various laws.

"We are sending the matter to other bench which is hearing a similar case (a PIL on foreign funding of Aam Aadmi Party)," a bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana said.

The PIL, which also seeks confiscation of funds allegedly received from abroad by the two parties in violation of Indian laws, will now be listed before a bench headed by Justice Pradeep Nandrajog on February 5 which will also hear another PIL against AAP's funding on the same day.

Earlier, the court had issued notices to the political parties, Ministry of Home Affairs and the Election Commission on the PIL filed by NGO Association for Democratic Reforms and E A S Sarma, a former Secretary of the Government of India.

The PIL has sought a direction for a "court-monitored investigation by SIT or the CBI into the violation of foreign funding and other laws by major political parties, corporate groups and PSUs."

It has alleged that the two political parties have violated the Representation of People's Act and the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) by taking donations from government companies and foreign sources, which is prohibited under both the legislations.

The petition alleged that UK-based Vedanta Resources and its subsidiary companies in India, including Sterlite Industries, Sesa Goa and Malco "have donated several crores of rupees to major political parties like the INC and the BJP".

The PIL has also alleged that according to Vedanta's annual report of 2012, it had made political donations to the tune of USD 2.01 million either through a trust or directly in respect of the Indian general elections.