Delhi HC gives 6 more months to BJP, Cong to come clear on foreign funds

The Delhi High Court bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar on Monday (October 9) granted six more months to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, to file replies on a contempt plea that has alleged that the government had failed to act against the Congress and the BJP for accepting foreign funding.

The court had issued notice on this on March 28. Justice Manmohan had issued a show-cause notice to the Union Home Secretary on the contempt plea filed by NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

The court had held both the BJP and the Congress guilty of receiving foreign funds from Vedanta Group subsidiaries in violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA).

Advocate Pranav Sachdeva, appearing for ADR, had told the court that even after three years of the court’s order the government had not taken any action.

On Monday, the court extended time for filing reply and to look into the accounts of political parties including BJP and INC for trace of any foreign funds.

—India Legal Bureau