Saket Gokhale’s journey from a foreign correspondent and RTI activist to a Rajya Sabha MP under the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is marked as much by controversy as by ambition. Though once hailed by some as a transparency crusader, Gokhale has repeatedly come under public and legal scrutiny for spreading misinformation, indulging in defamatory campaigns, and stoking sentiments against the Bharatiya state and its civilizational ethos. His growing profile in politics has paralleled a growing list of criminal cases and public allegations, many of which point to a pattern of deliberate provocation under the garb of activism.
Gokhale’s political alignment with the TMC in 2021 only intensified his role as a vocal — often hostile — critic of the central government. However, his activism quickly descended into blatant misinformation campaigns, leading to multiple arrests and high-profile court battles. The Delhi High Court’s recent order directing Gokhale to pay ₹50 lakh in damages to former diplomat Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri for defamation, and to publicly apologize by May 29, 2025, is a glaring testament to the legal consequences of his unrestrained accusations. His activities have increasingly raised alarm about a growing culture of impunity among political figures who freely weaponize disinformation.
Beyond legal troubles, Gokhale’s statements and digital footprint reveal a disturbing pattern of hostility toward Hindu beliefs, festivals, and socio-religious practices. Numerous instances point to his consistent targeting of Hindu symbols and traditions, often under the pretense of progressive criticism.
This report aims to chronicle the full arc of Saket Gokhale’s public career — from activism to political patronage — while exposing the undercurrents of his role in spreading lies, inciting division, and consistently undermining national unity. The following sections will examine in detail: his major legal controversies, his anti-Hindu narratives, his anti-Bharat statements, and the pattern of misinformation that defines his digital and political conduct.
Controversies and legal cases involving Saket Gokhale
Saket Gokhale’s political journey has been riddled with serious legal challenges and controversial episodes that have significantly tarnished his public image. One of the earliest high-profile incidents was his arrest by the Ahmedabad Cyber Cell on December 5, 2022, for allegedly spreading misinformation about a ₹30 crore expenditure for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Morbi bridge collapse site. Gokhale tweeted unverified claims that were later debunked by the Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) fact-check unit. The charges filed against him included forgery, creating public panic, and defamation. Although he was granted bail, the incident marked the beginning of a cascade of legal troubles tied to his social media activism and political conduct.
A more serious blow came in the form of a money laundering investigation. On January 25, 2023, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Gokhale under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), accusing him of misusing over ₹1 crore raised through crowdfunding campaigns like “FightWithRTI” and “SaketVersusModi.” The funds, meant for public interest activism, were allegedly diverted for personal luxuries, including share trading, cryptocurrency investments, and high-end dining. The ED’s investigation revealed that he even received ₹23.5 lakh from Shankar Sawai, a known aide of Rahul Gandhi, under a so-called verbal contract for social media consulting, with no documentation provided to back the claim. In August 2024, a special PMLA court in Ahmedabad formally framed criminal charges against him, and denied his plea to suspend the trial.
Another major controversy erupted when Gokhale defamed former diplomat Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri through tweets in 2021, insinuating financial impropriety in her property purchase in Geneva. Gokhale had questioned how she could afford a CHF 1.6 million apartment, but failed to verify the facts, which were later clarified in court. On July 1, 2024, the Delhi High Court ruled that his tweets were “evidently false and untrue,” ordering him to pay ₹50 lakh in damages and issue a public apology, both on X (formerly Twitter) and in the Times of India. On April 24, 2025, the court further directed that a portion of his Rajya Sabha salary be attached until the damages were paid.
An even more disturbing allegation surfaced in March 2021, when the Legal Rights Observatory (LRO) filed a complaint with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), accusing Gokhale of using crowdfunded donations to procure drugs. The complaint linked Gokhale’s activities to a controversial background—his father, a retired police officer, had once been arrested in a drug smuggling case in 2015 (though later acquitted due to lack of evidence). While these allegations remain legally unproven, they have nonetheless added to the shadow over Gokhale’s activism and credibility. Collectively, these legal entanglements and controversies paint a picture of a public figure whose actions frequently blur the lines between activism, misinformation, and personal gain.
Anti-Hindu activities by Saket Gokhale
Saket Gokhale has stirred controversy on multiple occasions with his anti-Hindu remarks. One notable instance was during the 2022 Leicester violence in the UK. Rather than condemning the attacks on Hindu mandirs and community members, Gokhale controversially blamed Hindus, tweeting that the global community should recognize the “potency of saffron terror and Hindu extremist groups.” This statement was widely criticized as inflammatory and one-sided, especially when Hindus were the primary victims of the targeted attacks.
In November 2024, Gokhale halted the annual Mata Jagran celebration held at Sindhu Gomti Apartments in Lucknow, allegedly due to concerns over his ailing mother’s health. He claimed that the bhajan and devotional singing disturbed her, as she was a heart patient and advised rest. Residents, however, accused him of obstructing a religious event, stating that the sound from the event site—over 300 meters away—was unlikely to cause any disturbance. This led to tension within the society and accusations of religious intolerance against Gokhale. Additionally, in December 2022, he targeted BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur by filing a police complaint against her for urging Hindus to protect themselves. He accused her of inciting communal violence through her statements, although many saw her comments as defensive in nature amidst rising concerns over attacks on Hindus.
Further intensifying his anti-Hindu image, Gokhale made remarks on caste and religious practices in July 2021. In a Twitter exchange, he defended a Muslim woman’s right to marry within her faith while arguing that when Brahmins follow similar customs, it is deemed regressive. He went a step further by calling Brahminism a “toxic concept” and dismissing comparisons between Islam and Brahminical traditions as false equivalence. In another notable episode, Gokhale attempted to halt the Bhumi Pujan ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya in 2020 by filing a petition in the Allahabad High Court. Citing COVID-19 restrictions, he demanded a stay on the religious ceremony. However, the court dismissed his petition. These actions and statements, taken collectively, have led many to view Gokhale as a polarizing figure who repeatedly targets Hindu customs, sentiments, and events under the guise of activism or secularism.
Controversial anti-Bharat remarks by Saket Gokhale
Saket Gokhale has repeatedly drawn criticism for spreading misinformation and making unsubstantiated claims that are seen as damaging to Bharat’s national interests and international image. One such instance occurred on February 9, 2021, when Gokhale alleged that Bharat was exporting COVID-19 vaccines nearing expiry that were no longer useful for domestic use. He claimed that vaccines manufactured as early as October 2020 were unsafe and would expire by April, suggesting that Bharat was offloading nearly expired stock to other countries. In reality, this claim was factually incorrect. The vaccines, produced by the Serum Institute of India, were essential for launching Bharat’s vaccination campaign on January 16, 2021. The initial expiry dates were based on limited trial data, but were later officially extended after further stability testing proved their safety and efficacy beyond six months.
In another controversial episode, on January 30, 2021, Gokhale reacted to a low-intensity blast near the Israeli Embassy in Delhi by suggesting that the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) could be behind the attack. Without citing any evidence or verified information, he tweeted that the possibility of RSS involvement cannot be ignored and added that it most definitely would be covered up. This baseless allegation was widely criticized as irresponsible and inflammatory, particularly given the sensitivity of the international situation. Investigating agencies never found any connection to the RSS, making his statements appear to be politically motivated speculation rather than grounded concerns.
Spreading lies and misinformation
Saket Gokhale has consistently shown a pattern of spreading falsehoods and crafting narratives designed to mislead the public. One of the earliest instances was during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, where he accused the Bharatiya government of favoritism in the approval of testing kits. On March 23, 2020, Gokhale alleged that CoSara, a Gujarat-based firm, was given special approval to manufacture COVID-19 test kits while other Bharatiya firms were kept waiting. He accused the government of manipulating rules to benefit CoSara alone and insinuated corruption by suggesting political connections behind the move. However, facts revealed that CoSara already had US FDA approval for its kits, which exempted it from further validation. The temporary shift in policy on March 21, 2020, requiring only US FDA or CE-approved kits, was a safety measure due to the urgent need for reliable testing methods in a pandemic situation. Within days, Bharatiya firms like Mylab and Seegene were validated and approved, rendering Gokhale’s allegations baseless and misleading.
In another episode, on September 16, 2024, Gokhale targeted the Bharatiya Railways over the Vande Bharat sleeper trains. He claimed that the cost per train had been increased by 50% under a quid pro quo arrangement, accusing the Modi government of corruption. However, his calculation was deliberately misleading. The cost increase was a result of the expansion in the number of coaches per train from 16 to 24, made to accommodate growing passenger demand. In fact, despite the per-unit cost going up, the total contract value decreased due to economies of scale. Gokhale’s narrative that the trains were designed exclusively for the rich also fell flat, as the government simultaneously prioritized the production of 12,000 non-AC coaches for common passengers. His attempt to fuel a class divide through misinformation was both irresponsible and divisive.
Gokhale’s tendency to dismiss genuine security threats as BJP IT Cell propaganda further revealed his reckless approach. On May 23, 2022, when The Resistance Front (TRF), an Islamist terror group, issued a warning against the Amarnath Yatra, Gokhale claimed that the threat letter was fake and manufactured by the BJP’s online army. This came despite a history of terror threats targeting pilgrims in Kashmir, and the warning being taken seriously by security agencies. By casting doubt on legitimate intelligence inputs and suggesting they were fabricated for political gains, Gokhale risked undermining public trust in national security agencies and potentially endangering lives by downplaying the severity of terror threats.
Another controversy unfolded in February 2020, when Gokhale claimed that Delhi Police had granted him permission to hold a rally where participants would chant a controversial slogan. The Delhi Police, however, clarified that no such permission had been granted. The document he shared was merely an acknowledgment of receipt of his application—not an official approval. Gokhale’s aim seemed to be to falsely implicate the police and stir outrage, relying on half-truths and official-looking documents without basis. This deliberate distortion of facts is emblematic of his broader strategy—grab attention, stir chaos, and retreat behind ambiguity.
Gokhale also spread falsehoods related to government preparations for the G20 Summit in 2023. He tweeted that the Bharatiya government had purchased 50 bulletproof Audi cars at an extravagant cost of ₹400 crores. This claim was later proven false by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), which clarified that 20 bulletproof Audi cars had been leased, not purchased, at a cost of ₹18 crores, in line with international security protocols. The misinformation originated from a misinterpreted news report by DNA, which later issued a correction. Gokhale, however, did not retract his claim, highlighting a consistent pattern of prioritizing political point-scoring over factual accuracy.
In another episode in June 2023, Gokhale tried to spark outrage over Bharat’s proposed deal with the US for MQ-9B drones. He claimed the deal was overpriced and implied that the Bharatiya government was under American pressure. The PIB and the Ministry of Defence clarified that the quoted price of $3.1 billion was only a proposal and no final deal had been signed. Gokhale’s post misrepresented facts by comparing base prices across different variants and countries without context. The pattern is unmistakable—time and again, Saket Gokhale has attempted to generate political capital by misleading the public through twisted narratives, half-truths, and outright lies.
Saket Gokhale’s transition from activist to politician serves as a compelling case study of how the commendable principles of transparency and accountability can be co-opted to further divisive and self-serving agendas. Instead of promoting constructive dialogue or implementing genuine reform, Gokhale has consistently employed misinformation, legal defiance, and anti-national rhetoric to undermine the integrity of Bharat’s social fabric and its institutions. His ongoing attacks on Hindu traditions, the dissemination of unfounded allegations against the state, and his involvement in multiple criminal investigations illustrate a pattern of strategic provocation rather than principled activism. Ultimately, Gokhale’s actions not only diminish public trust in democratic processes but also pose a threat to national unity. It is essential that such irresponsible behavior is exposed and that accountability is enforced rigorously.
