The Supreme Court has directed the State Bank of India to disclose the unique alpha numeric numbers of the electoral bonds, a revelation that would help establish the link between donors and political parties.

Slamming the SBI, the apex court today said the data provided by the state-owned lender was incomplete. It directed the bank to disclose all details of the bonds.

Incidentally, the disclosure of the electoral bond numbers could be used to match those who had purchased the electoral bonds to the parties they were donating to.

"Who is appearing for the State Bank of India? They have not disclosed the bond numbers. It has to be disclosed by the State Bank of India," Chief Justice Chandrachud said.

A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud was hearing a petition filed by the EC seeking a modification of the operative portion of its 11 March order in the electoral bonds case. 

All details have to be furnished by the SBI, the CJI observed.  A day before, the Election Commission (EC) had put out the entire list of entities that have purchased electoral bonds for making political donations.

In its notice to SBI, the Supreme Court bench has asked the bank to explain the lapse during the next hearing on 18 March.

The bench also directed the registrar (judicial) to ensure that the data filed earlier by the EC before it in a sealed cover be scanned and digitised. This will then be uploaded on the website of the EC.

The EC's counsel said they have filed an application for a minor modification of the 11 March order.

The counsel said the EC had not kept any copy of the documents which was earlier submitted in the court since it was placed in sealed cover.

In its application, the EC requested the apex court that the documents be returned to it so that it can comply with the court’s 11 March directions.

"The registrar (judicial) of this court shall ensure that the data which has been filed by the ECI in pursuance of interim orders of this court is scanned and digitised," the bench said. It added that this exercise may preferably be carried out by 5 pm on Saturday.

Once this exercise is completed, the original documents shall be returned to the EC's counsel and the poll panel shall then upload the data on its website on or before the day after.

In its 11 March order, the SC dismissed SBI's plea seeking extension of time and ordered it to disclose the details of electoral bonds to the EC by close of business hours on 12 March.

In its verdict on 15 February, the apex court scrapped the Centre's electoral bonds scheme that allowed anonymous political funding. Calling it "unconstitutional", the court ordered disclosure by the EC of donors, the amount donated by them and the recipients by 13 March.