NICOLA Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell has been charged in connection with alleged embezzlement of funds from SNP finances.
Cops confirmed the 59-year-old was taken into custody this morning and was questioned by detectives as part of the Operation Branchform investigation.
Officers later confirmed Mr Murrell, the party's former chief executive, has been charged amid the probe after he'd been quizzed for more than nine hours.
He was snapped as he left Falkirk Police in what's thought to be a cop car.
SNP bosses confirmed Mr Murrell has quit the party.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "A 59-year-old man has today, Thursday, 18 April, 2024, been charged in connection with the embezzlement of funds from the Scottish National Party.
"The man, who was arrested at 9.13am today and had previously been arrested as a suspect on 5 April, 2023, was charged at 6.35pm after further questioning by Police Scotland detectives investigating the funding and finances of the party.
"A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in due course.
"The man is no longer in police custody. As this investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further.
"The matter is active for the purposes of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and the public are therefore advised to exercise caution if discussing it on social media."
Operation Branchform was launched in July 2021 after allegations were made to officers earlier that year about the fate of £600,000 of donations made to the party.
The long-running inquiry saw Nicola Sturgeon and husband Peter Murrell arrested nearly two years later in 2023, along with SNP MSP and former long-time party treasurer Colin Beattie.
The police probe was launched into what happened to cash raised between 2017 and 2019 for an indy referendum campaign.
Mr Murrell was arrested and released pending further inquiries on April 5 last year after being quizzed by officers.
Police carried out dramatic raids on Ms Sturgeon and ex-SNP chief exec Mr Murrell’s Glasgow home, as well as SNP HQ in Edinburgh. - the week after Ms Sturgeon was replaced by Humza Yousaf as First Minister.
Officers were seen carrying out boxes of evidence during the search of Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell's home, where a forensics tent was pitched in front of their house.
They seized various items including a £110,000 Niesmann+Bischoff campervan from Mr Murrell's mother's house in Dunfermline.
On April 18 last year, Mr Beattie was then arrested at his home in Eskbank, Dalkeith, and was also later released without charge pending further inquiries.
On June 11, Ms Sturgeon was arrested, questioned, and then later released without charge pending further inquiries. She strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
In July, Police Scotland's outgoing Chief Constable Sir Iain suggested Branchform’s scope had been widened and was looking into “potential embezzlement” and “misuse of funds”.
We told in January how an update from the Crown Office revealed at that point no decision had been taken about whether charges should be brought - two-and-a-half years after the investigation began.
Ms Sturgeon has repeatedly denied wrongdoing or that the probe had anything to do with her announcing her resignation in February 2023.
Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy said: “The announcement that Peter Murrell has been charged by Police Scotland is an extremely serious development in the investigation into the SNP’s finances.
“As the police probe continues, it is now more important than ever that all SNP staff and politicians, past and present, fully cooperate.
“The investigation, which has been going on for three years, appears to be reaching a conclusion and the SNP must commit to being fully open and transparent in this critical phase.”
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “This is another incredibly concerning development in this long-running investigation.
“It is essential that Police Scotland is able to proceed with this investigation without interference."
Mr Murrell ignored questions from the gathered media outside his home as he returned as he returned around 8.10pm.
A spokesperson for the SNP said: “While this development will come as a shock, the police investigation remains ongoing and it would, therefore, be inappropriate to make any comment."
And Nats bosses also confirmed Mr Murrell has resigned his SNP membership.
The First Minister’s official spokesman declined to comment.