In response to an RTI filed by Pune-based activist Vihar Durve, the State Bank of India has revealed that over Rs 822 crore (Rs 8,22,25,79,000) worth of electoral bonds were sold in the month of May alone, during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The Quint has published a series of articles showing why electoral bonds are dangerous in a democracy, highlighting the opacity of the scheme.

The RTI filed by Durve also gives a city-wise break down of the origins of the bonds sold in May. The maximum amount of bonds, worth over Rs 370 crore, were sold in the Kolkata Main SBI branch.