Crowdfunding ‘misuse’ case: SC grants bail to TMC leader Saket Gokhale

According to the agency, Gokhale said that the money was deposited in his account by one Shankar Swai on behalf of Congress for “social media work and other consulting”. The ED, however, said the money was deposited in Gokhale’s account in November 2021, while he had joined TMC in August that year.

According to ED’s remand application, between 2019 and 2021, Gokhale ran three crowdfunding campaigns — “FightWithRTI”, “SaketVersusModi” and “JusticeForSuhasGokhale” — through online platform ourdemocracy.in to allegedly fund his public interest activities. These generated funds of over Rs 80 lakh, and he received cash deposit of Rs 23.54 lakh in his account, according to ED.

ED had further informed the court that Gokhale has filed 400 RTI applications, which cost him only Rs 4,000. Some of the funds collected were also used for drafting a PIL against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ED said.

According to the remand application, Gokhale used Rs 30 lakh of these funds to pay his credit card bills, which included significant expenses on “purchase of liquor…wining and dining and other personal expenses”.

A large share of the funds, with transactions close to Rs 2 crore, were also invested in the stock market for intra-day trading, ED stated. Gokhale has told ED in his statement that he lost Rs 30 lakh in this, the application stated.