Foreign political funding: HC gives Centre final opportunity for reply

NEW DELHI: The Centre was today given a "final opportunity" by the Delhi High Court file an affidavit in three weeks on a PIL accusing Congress and BJP of accepting donations from foreign companies in violation of various laws.

"Final opportunity of three weeks is given to file an affidavit," a bench of acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice Vibhu Bhakru said.

The court order came after the Centre submitted that it needed some more time to ascertain the shareholding pattern of the companies, including Vedanta Resources Plc, which were named in a PIL as foreign companies which funded the political parties.

"How much time do you need to ascertain the shareholding pattern of a company? How long does it take? We give you time, then you ask for more time," the court told the Centre.

Prashant Bhushan, the counsel for the petitioner NGO Association for Democratic Reforms, argued that "they haven't filed an affidavit as yet, which shows they do not want to take any action."

The PIL alleges various laws have been violated by Congress and BJP by receiving funding from Vedanta Resources and seeks direction for a CBI or a SIT probe against them for allegedly accepting donations.

The PIL alleged the two political parties had violated the Representation of People Act (RPA) and the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA).