SC To Hear TMC Leader Saket Gokhale's Bail Plea In Crowdfunding 'Misuse' Case On March 13
The SC on Friday said that it will hear the bail plea of TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale in a case related to the alleged misuse of money collected through crowdfunding on March 13.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday said that it will hear on March 13 a plea filed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) spokesperson Saket Gokhale seeking bail in a case related to alleged misuse of money collected through crowdfunding, reported PTI.
"We will have it immediately after vacation. This file came at late night, we have not seen the file. We will take it up after reopening," the bench of Justices BR Gavai and Vikram Nath said, as quoted by PTI.
Appearing for Gokhale, senior advocate AM Singhvi submitted that the petitioner has always maintained that he has collected money from crowdfunding. He added that this is not a case to deny bail, he said.
The apex court posted the matter for hearing on March 13.
Earlier on January 23, the Gujarat High Court had refused bail to Gokhale and asked him to approach the court only after a charge sheet is filed.
Earlier 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 has been remanded to ED custody till January 31 after his arrest in the money laundering case.
He is charged under sections 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust), and 467 (forgery) of the Indian Penal Code. Gokhale allegedly gathered over Rs 70 lakh from more than 1,700 people using a crowdfunding portal, 'our democracy', and used the money for personal purposes.
Saket Gokhale 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".
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.
On December 1, Gokhale tweeted a news clipping on information received allegedly through RTI that stated Modi's visit to Morbi cost 30 crore. Soon after being granted bail by an Ahmedabad court, the TMC leader was detained again on December 8 by Morbi police for the identical offence.
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