The Quint’s Exposé on Electoral Bonds: Read the Forensic Reports

These numbers, which are printed on the bonds, could help track down the link between donors and political parties.

The Quint’s investigation reveals that electoral bonds have hidden numbers printed on them.

(Photo: The Quint/Shruti Mathur)

In a major exposé, The Quint revealed that electoral bonds carry unique serial numbers invisible to the naked eye. These numbers can possibly help track the link between donors and political parties.

The Quint took the two electoral bonds it purchased from the State Bank of India branches in the first week of April to a forensic laboratory. After examining them one after the other, the hidden numbers – alphanumeric sequences – were discovered.

The Quint is publishing both the reports from the forensic laboratory below:

Numbers Visible in Top Right Corner Under UV Light

One of the first observations mentioned in the forensics reports was that the serial numbers OT 015101 and OT 015102 were visible in the top right corner of the bonds purchased on 5 April and 9 April, respectively. These are the unique alphanumeric sequences that were found to be printed on the bonds themselves.

These numbers were made visible, showing fluorescence, when brought under a Ultra-Violet (UV) Light.

Additionally, the logo of the State Bank of India was clearly visible in fluorescence when brought under UV light as well.

SBI Lettering Visible on Borders

Determining the fact that the electoral bonds were officially purchased from the State Bank of India, the reports stated that the micro-lettering reading “State Bank of India” can be seen all around the borders of the page of the original document, when examined under high magnification.

Along with this, the presence of red-green and blue-green coloured paper fibres are all visible through the document in fluorescence when observed under a UV light.

Ashoka Emblem Watermark Visible

In both the electoral bonds purchased by The Quint, the watermark of the Ashoka emblem is visible on the document when brought under transmitted light, the reports found.

Additionally, the security printing which reads as SBI, COPY is visible on the lower end of the document, while the words “State Bank of India” can be seen throughout its length. The background security printing on the document, along with the other two, can all be seen under infrared rays, proving its authenticity.