Money laundering charges against TMC MP Saket Gokhale: ED

A special People's Liberation Army court in Ahmedabad on Tuesday filed criminal charges against TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, the Enforcement Directorate said.

The money laundering case against Gokhale stems from an FIR filed by the Gujarat Police regarding Gokhale's alleged misuse of funds raised through crowdfunding.

“The Ld. Chief District and Sessions Judge, Ahmedabad (Rural) and PMLA Designated Special Court, Ahmedabad, today ordered Saket Gokhale, Member of Parliament Rajya Sabha and General Assembly members under provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 Trinamool Congress spokesperson of India filed criminal charges…” the ED said in a statement.

Charges were allegedly filed against the 31-year-old lawmaker last year under anti-money laundering laws. The Education Bureau arrested him in January 2023.

“He has also been framed for alleged criminal conduct in a Gujarat police case,” the statement said.

The ED said the special court also dismissed Gokhale's application under Section 309 of the Criminal Procedure Code seeking stay of proceedings under the PMLA till the court decides on the scheduled offense case registered against him.

In December 2022, state police arrested Gokhale in Delhi for allegedly misusing funds raised through crowdfunding.

The ED said he was arrested on money laundering charges for crowdfunding funds from the public while “portraying himself as an RTI activist and social worker”.

“The crowdfunded amount was used by him for personal expenses such as intraday stock trading, payment of credit card charges, shopping through online apps like Paytm, Swiggy, Zomato, cryptocurrency trading and other miscellaneous (transactions),” it said.

Gokhale denies misuse of the funds.

(This report has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – PTI)