West Australian Labor MP Jagadish Krishnan is being sued in a US court over claims he failed to repay a $1 million loan, and has begun defamation proceedings in Western Australia against the businessman who lent him the money.
West Australian Labor MP Jagadish Krishnan, the member for Riverton, is being sued by New York businessman Kannan Amalraj and his company Kenyan Consulting LLC in a New Jersey court. The lawsuit, filed on October 20, alleges Krishnan failed to repay a loan secured during a visit to the US in May 2024. The plaintiff is seeking $1.2 million, inclusive of interest, accusing Krishnan of “unjustly enriching” himself.
According to court documents seen by 9 News Perth and WAtoday, Amalraj alleged Krishnan reached out through a mutual friend in early May 2024 to discuss “fundraising activities” for his GP network Spectrum Health. Amalraj claimed Krishnan first requested $US250,000 to address “a critical financial situation,” which was sent in two tranches on May 6 and May 8. After a meeting in Connecticut on May 31, Amalraj alleged Krishnan requested further funding, and the men agreed on an additional $US405,000, sent in two tranches in July 2024.
The loan amounts were allegedly transferred to Codd Technologies Pty Ltd, a company of which Krishnan’s wife is the sole director and shareholder. Amalraj claimed he was told the two companies were connected, but ASIC documents show they are not affiliated. Amalraj alleged the loan has not been repaid despite an oral agreement for repayment within a year at 8 per cent annual interest. He accused Krishnan of a “pattern of non-response, evasive explanations and unsupported assertions” to avoid repayment.
Krishnan’s lawyer, Martin Bennett, said the lawsuit would be “fully defended” and described it as baseless. He provided a copy of a loan agreement signed by Krishnan’s wife and Gokila Amalraj, setting the interest at 6 per cent per annum with a nine-year repayment period.
On Monday, Bennett lodged a writ in the WA Supreme Court to begin defamation proceedings against Kannan and Gokila Amalraj over emails sent to Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson in June 2026 and to other parties. The writ claimed the emails “falsely and maliciously defamed” Krishnan and seeks damages and an injunction.
Krishnan has been the member for Riverton since 2021 and served as Parliamentary Secretary to Premier Roger Cook from December 2023 to March 2025. Last year, this masthead reported that Krishnan partially owned a GP clinic publicly admonished by Health Minister Sanderson for not meeting with the family of a toddler who died from undetected leukaemia. 9News also reported that Krishnan’s business partner took his family trust to court over $53,000.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The lawsuit involves a sitting WA Labor MP and raises questions about his financial dealings and judgment.
- The countersuit for defamation escalates the dispute into the state's legal system, potentially drawing in senior government figures who received the emails.
- The outcome could affect Krishnan's political career and the Labor government's reputation in the lead-up to future elections.
Background
Jagadish Krishnan was elected to the WA Legislative Assembly in 2021 and served as a parliamentary secretary to Premier Roger Cook until March 2025. He was previously a major shareholder in Spectrum Health, a GP network sold this week. The MP has faced past scrutiny over a clinic he partly owned that was publicly criticised by Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson after a toddler's death. The current legal action involves a loan allegedly for fundraising for that network, though the money was directed to a company controlled by his wife.
Key Perspectives
Kannan Amalraj (plaintiff): Alleges Krishnan borrowed more than $1 million for his GP network but diverted the money to his wife's company and failed to repay, engaging in a pattern of evasion.
Jagadish Krishnan (via his lawyer Martin Bennett): Describes the US lawsuit as baseless and says it will be fully defended. He has provided a loan agreement showing different terms (6% interest over nine years) and has initiated defamation proceedings, arguing the emails sent to government officials were false and malicious.
What to Watch
- The New Jersey court's next steps and whether Krishnan appears or seeks to have the case dismissed.
- The WA Supreme Court defamation proceedings and any interim orders against the Amalrajs.
- Any response from Premier Roger Cook or Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson regarding the emails sent to their offices.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedKrishnan is being sued in the US over an alleged $1 million unpaid loan.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “West Australian Labor MP Jagadish Krishnan is being sued by a New York businessman over claims he failed to pay back a $1 million loan secured during a visit to the US in May 2024.”
- SupportedKrishnan has begun defamation proceedings in Western Australia against the businessman.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Krishnan has vowed to defend the lawsuit and has countersued, beginning defamation proceedings in the WA Supreme Court this week”
- SupportedThe plaintiff is a New York businessman, and the alleged loan was secured during a 2024 US visit.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “West Australian Labor MP Jagadish Krishnan is being sued by a New York businessman over claims he failed to pay back a $1 million loan secured during a visit to the US in May 2024.”
- SupportedThe lawsuit seeks $1.2 million, inclusive of interest, and accuses Krishnan of “unjustly enriching” himself.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “accusing Krishnan of “unjustly enriching” himself by not paying back the loan in the agreed timeframe and is seeking $1.2 million from the Riverton MP, inclusive of interest.”
- SupportedThe lawsuit was filed on October 20.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “According to court documents lodged in the New Jersey District Court on October 20”
- SupportedAmalraj alleged Krishnan requested $US250,000, sent in two tranches on May 6 and May 8.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “He claimed he agreed to lend Krishan the money and sent two USD$125,000 tranches on May 6 and May 8.”
- SupportedAfter a May 31 meeting in Connecticut, the men agreed on a further $US405,000, sent in two tranches in July 2024.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “where he alleged Krishnan requested more funding and the men agreed Kenyan Consulting would pay Krishnan a further $US405,000. That money was allegedly sent in two tranches in July, 2024.”
- Partly supportedThe loan amounts were transferred to Codd Technologies Pty Ltd.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Amalraj alleged Krishnan instead asked the loan amounts be transferred to Codd Technologies Pty Ltd”
- SupportedAmalraj alleged an oral agreement for repayment within a year at 8% annual interest; Bennett provided a signed agreement setting 6% interest and a nine-year repayment period.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “despite an oral agreement it would be settled within a year while generating interest at 8 per cent per annum. ... That agreement stated the loan was agreed to on May 15, 2024 with a 6 per cent per annum interest rate, and the repayment period was over nine years.”
- SupportedBennett said the lawsuit would be “fully defended” and described it as baseless.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Krishnan’s lawyer Martin Bennett said the lawsuit would be “fully defended”. He described the New Jersey court action as baseless”
- SupportedBennett lodged a WA Supreme Court writ on Monday over emails, including one sent to Sanderson in June 2026; the writ claims the emails defamed Krishnan and seeks damages and an injunction.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Bennett lodged a writ on Monday to begin defamation proceedings against Kannan and Gokila over the email sent to Sanderson in June 2026 and another email sent to other parties detailing the loan issue. The writ filed in WA’s Supreme Court claimed the emails “falsely and maliciously defamed” Krishnan. Krishnan is seeking damages and an injunction”