The Hetero Group and its subsidiaries donated a whopping ₹117.5 crore to the BRS, ₹15 crore to the BJP, and ₹5 crore to the Congress.
Several pharmaceutical companies, with ties to Hetero Pharmaceuticals, have been involved in political donations. (Sumit Jha)
Hetero Pharmaceuticals, through its eight subsidiaries, purchased electoral bonds worth ₹137.5 crore. Of this, ₹117.5 crore was donated to the BRS.
Notably, ₹50 crore contributions occurred shortly before the Hetero Group Chairman, B Partha Saradhi Reddy, was nominated as a Rajya Sabha member by the BRS in June 2022.
The pharmaceutical company, via its subsidiaries Hetero Drugs and Hetero Labs, acquired bonds worth ₹40 crore on 7 April, 2022. Additionally, another subsidiary, Honour Lab, purchased bonds worth ₹10 crore on the same date.
In October 2021, the Income Tax (I-T) Department conducted raids at over 50 locations across the country associated with the Hetero Group. During these raids, tax officials allegedly seized unaccounted-for cash totalling ₹140 crore. Subsequently, in the financial year 2022-23, the company donated ₹2 crore to the BJP directly.
In June 2022, Chairman Reddy was nominated as a Rajya Sabha member by the BRS. Interestingly, just before his nomination, in April 2022, Hetero Drugs and Hetero Labs purchased 40 electoral bonds valued at ₹1 crore each. According to Election Commission of India data, these bonds were allocated to the BRS.
Moreover, the company acquired ₹10 crore worth of bonds on 25 July, 2023 for the BRS, and another ₹10 crore worth of bonds on 12 October, 2023, for the BJP — both in the name of Hetero.
Several pharmaceutical companies that are subsidiaries of Hetero have also been involved in political donations. Honour Lab Limited, led by Managing Director Rathnakar Reddy Kura, who also serves as Director at Hetero Drugs Limited and Hetero Labs Limited, donated a total of ₹25 crore to the BRS party in two installments, in 2022 and 2023.
Similarly, Hindys Lab Private Limited, where Director Sambi Reddy Jonnala holds a full-time position at Hetero Drugs Limited as Director, contributed ₹17.5 crore. All of this money was directed to the BRS. Furthermore, Jonnala, who is also a Director at Selmar Lab Limited, donated a total of ₹15 crore — ₹5 crore to the BJP and ₹10 crore to the BRS.
Another Director of Hindys Lab, Kasireddy Subhas Chander Reddy, who is also associated with Honour Lab Limited and Hazelo Lab Private Limited as their Director donated ₹12.5 crore to the BRS.
Dasami Lab Private Limited, whose Director Mohana Reddy Chilukuri is also a Director at Hetero Labs Limited, contributed ₹7.5 crore, with ₹5 crore going to the Indian National Congress and ₹2.5 crore to the BRS.
Altogether, companies associated with the Hetero Group appear to have donated a total of ₹137.5 crore to various political parties — ₹117.5 crore to the BRS, ₹15 crore to the BJP, and ₹5 crore to the INC.
The BRS party ranks as the fourth largest recipient of electoral bonds in India, having received ₹1,322 crore, as indicated by its own affidavit submitted in a sealed cover.
The highest contribution, amounting to ₹195 crore, was made by Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL), an infrastructure company based in Hyderabad. MEIL was involved in the construction of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project during the BRS rule. Allegations of corruption have been recently levelled against both the previous BRS government and MEIL concerning this project, as per a CAG report.
Hetero Labs, along with its subsidiaries, emerges as the second largest donor to the BRS, contributing ₹117.5 crore.
Yashoda Super Speciality Hospital, based in the city, donated ₹94 crore to the BRS. Additionally, Ramco-owned Chennai Greenwoods Private Limited collectively donated ₹50 crore to the party.
The My Home Group, through its subsidiaries My Home Construction, Aqua Space, and Tellapur Technocity, contributed a total of ₹50 crore to the party.
Dr Reddy’s Laboratories donated ₹32 crore, while the Kitex Group, which established its industries in 2022, also made a substantial donation of ₹25 crore to the BRS. Divis Laboratories and HES Infra donated ₹32 crore and ₹20 crore, respectively, to the party.
It should be noted that these numbers are after 12 April 2019; bonds purchased before this date were not made available.
Telangana, known for its significant presence of pharmaceutical companies, has drawn attention from regulatory bodies like the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) due to environmental concerns.
Two of the Hetero Group’s subsidiaries — Hindys Lab Private Limited and Hazelo Labs Private Limited — have faced scrutiny from the TSPCB for their pollution-related issues.
Hindys Lab was directed by the NGT-appointed committee to pay ₹2.24 crore in environmental compensation for soil contamination in Nalgonda district.
Similarly, Hazelo Labs was instructed by the TSPCB in February 2022 to address contaminated water concerns and limit production due to inadequate pollution control measures.
(Edited by Kamna Revanoor)
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