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Riverton MP Jagadish Krishnan sued in US over alleged $1 million loan, countersues for defamation

A US businessman says the Riverton MLA owes him more than US$650,000. Dr Krishnan denies it and is suing for defamation in Perth.

Everything Perth31 October 20262 min read

[EDITOR NOTE — DELETE BEFORE PUBLISHING] TO DO before publishing:

  • Seek comment from Martin Bennett (Krishnan's lawyer) and from Mr Amalraj or his US counsel.
  • Ask the Premier's office whether it received the emails and what it did with them.
  • Check the New Jersey complaint on PACER (US District Court, District of New Jersey) and the WA Supreme Court writ on eCourts, rather than relying on second-hand reporting.
  • Legal review: the story repeats allegations that are the subject of a defamation action.
  • Add a photo (Parliament member portrait or agency image).

A US businessman is suing WA Labor MP Jagadish Krishnan in an American court over money he says he lent the Riverton MLA in 2024. Dr Krishnan has called the claim baseless and has filed a defamation suit in Perth.

Kannan Amalraj, of Short Hills, New Jersey, and his company Kenyan Consulting LLC filed the complaint on 20 October in a federal court in New Jersey. The case was first reported by WAtoday and 9News Perth. The claim is for unjust enrichment, and the plaintiffs seek US$1.2 million including interest.

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According to the reported court documents:

  • The first request. In early May 2024, Dr Krishnan asked Mr Amalraj, through a mutual friend, for US$250,000 to help raise funds for the Spectrum Health GP network. Dr Krishnan was a major shareholder in the network.
  • The payments. Mr Amalraj says he paid US$125,000 on 6 May and another US$125,000 on 8 May 2024. Kenyan Consulting then sent US$405,000 in July, bringing the total to more than US$655,000 (about A$1 million).
  • His terms. Mr Amalraj says the money was a one-year loan at 8 per cent interest.
  • Where it went. He says it was paid, at Dr Krishnan's request, to Codd Technologies Pty Ltd, a company whose sole director is Dr Krishnan's wife.

Dr Krishnan disputes that account. Through his lawyer, Martin Bennett, he has produced a written loan agreement dated 15 May 2024 between Codd Technologies and Kenyan Consulting. It sets a nine-year repayment period at 6 per cent interest, not one year at 8 per cent. He says the New Jersey suit will be fully defended.

He has also gone on the offensive. His lawyers have lodged a writ in the WA Supreme Court for defamation against Mr Amalraj and his wife, Gokila Amalraj, Kenyan Consulting's chief executive. The writ relates to emails the couple sent about the loan, including to the office of Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson in June. The reporting says they also contacted Premier Roger Cook's office. Dr Krishnan is seeking damages and an injunction to stop the allegations being repeated.

There is no suggestion of criminal wrongdoing.

Dr Krishnan, a doctor, has held Riverton for Labor since 2021. He was Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier from December 2023 to March 2025.

Neither claim has been tested in court.

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