Criminal Charges Framed Against TMC MP Saket Gokhale For Misusing Crowdfunding, ED Tells PMLA Court

On Tuesday (13 August), a special PMLA court in Ahmedabad has framed criminal charges against Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP and national spokesperson Saket Gokhale under the stringent anti-money laundering law.

On a post on X, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has stated, "The Hon’ble Principal District and Sessions Judge, Ahmedabad (Rural) and Designated Special Court (PMLA), Ahmedabad, today i.e. 13.08.2024 framed Criminal Charges against Saket Gokhale, M.P., Rajya Sabha and National Spokesperson of All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) under the provisions of PMLA, 2002 in the Prosecution Complaint filed by ED. Charges against him for the scheduled offense in the police case have also been framed.”

Gokhale was arrested by state police in Delhi in December 2022 for allegedly misusing funds collected through crowdfunding.

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The ED informed the court that “significant amounts of money collected through crowdfunding by Gokhale have been squandered on speculative share trading, dining, and other personal expenses, which appear to be extravagant in nature.” Gokhale has however denied any misuse of the funds.

Despite the charges, a special court granted regular bail to Gokhale in May last year in connection with the money laundering case related to the alleged irregularities.

In a separate defamation case, the Delhi High Court in July ordered Saket Gokhale to pay Rs 50 lakhs in damages to Lakshmi Puri, the wife of Union Minister Hardeep Puri, for defamation.

This ruling came after Lakshmi Puri filed a defamation suit against Gokhale for making harmful statements on social media.

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