New Delhi: Central probe agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) interrogated Alankar Sawai, a close aide of former Congress President Rahul Gandhi, in a money laundering case and recorded his statement. Officials have informed that Sawai was interrogated and was brought face to face with Saket Gokhale in Ahmedabad for three days at the beginning of this week. Alankar Sawai was a former banker by profession and is considered a special aide of Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi. It is said that Sawai leads his research team.
The ED had summoned Sawai after arresting 35-year-old Saket Gokhale on January 25, when he was in Gujarat police custody, in connection with alleged financial irregularities in collecting funds through a crowd-funding platform. The ED, while seeking Gokhale's remand that day, informed an Ahmedabad court that Gokhale had informed the agency when asked about Rs 23.54 lakh deposited in cash in his bank account over a year, he said that this amount was given in the form of cash by Alankar Sawai of Congress for social media work and other consultations. When asked why Sawai paid him in cash, Gokhale said that only Sawai can answer this question.
The ED said that, when asked about any written agreement with Alankar Sawai in connection with the social media work, he said that it was only an oral agreement with Alankar Sawai. The ED had alleged that these cash deposits were received by Gokhale when he was a member of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Alankar Sawai was questioned about these matters and his statement was recorded under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Official sources have pointed out that the interrogation and face-to-face interrogation of the two did not help them trace the fund, as stated by Gokhale, even as Sawai allegedly denied any cash payment. The money laundering case against Gokhale has emerged from the Gujarat Police's FIR. Gokhale was arrested by the state police in December 2022 from Delhi in connection with the alleged misappropriation of funds collected through crowdfunding.
The ED had informed the Ahmedabad court that the huge amount collected through crowdfunding (by Gokhale) has been spent on speculative share trading, wining and dining, and other personal needs, which appear to be extravagant in nature. Gokhale, however, denied that he had misused the money. The agency can interrogate more people related to the case.
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