SC Issues Notice To Gujarat Govt Over Saket Gokhale's Bail Plea In Crowdfunding 'Misuse' Case

The Supreme Court sent a notice to the Gujarat government seeking its response on a bail plea filed by TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale.

Crowdfunding 'Misuse' Case: SC Sends Notice To Gujarat Government Over Saket Gokhale's Bail Plea

Source : PTI

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sent a notice to the Gujarat government seeking its response on a bail plea filed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) spokesperson Saket Gokhale, reported PTI. The TMC leader has sought bail in a case related to the alleged misuse of money collected through crowdfunding. 

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Vikram Nath issued a notice to the state government asking it to furnish its response within two weeks. 

Appearing for Gokhale, senior advocate AM Singhvi earlier submitted that the petitioner has always maintained that he has collected money from crowdfunding. 

According to PTI, the Gujarat High Court had earlier refused bail to Gokhale on January 23. It further asked him to approach the court only after a charge sheet is filed. 

Saket Gokhale was arrested from Delhi on December 30, 2022 by the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch in a case of alleged misuse of money he had collected through crowdfunding. He was charged under sections 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 467 (forgery) of the IPC.  

On Jan 25, the Enforcement Directorate placed Saket Gokhale under arrest in a money laundering case connected to the alleged irregularities in the crowdfunding matter, in which he was arrested by the Gujarat Police. On December 30, Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch detained Saket Gokhale from Delhi in connection with the alleged abuse of money raised through crowdfunding.   

Saket Gokhale was remanded to ED custody till January 31 after his arrest in the money laundering case. He claimed that his detention by the Ahmedabad Police was wrongful and alleged that he was framed in the case because "he was battling against the establishment".

Notably, Gujarat Police detained the TMC leader thrice in December 2022. On December 6, he was detained by the Cyber Crime Branch for allegedly circulating false information about the expense of PM Modi's visit to Morbi town following a bridge collapse.