POLICE Scotland executed a warrant yesterday in an investigation into £600,000 of "missing" funds that were raised by the SNP.

The money in question was raised from donations that were intended for the specific purpose of campaigning for Scottish independence.

It has been alleged that the funds were then spent elsewhere which has sparked accusations of fraud, with Police Scotland commencing their investigations last summer.

The Mail on Sunday has also reported that Police Scotland took possession of a “substantial” number of documents before Christmas.

The row has prompted some resignations within the party, including Douglas Chapman quitting as national treasurer and Joanna Cherry standing down from the party’s ruling national executive committee.

A Police Scotland spokesperson has said that “enquiries are ongoing”.

SNP president Michael Russell has previously said that the £600,000 is "not missing" and that the money is still available for this purpose.

The former constitutional affairs secretary was asked at a National Roadshow event last year about the matter after police last month launched a formal investigation following a number of complaints made by people who had donated cash.

Russell said: "Colin Beattie [the party's treasurer] ... has given a very comprehensive and clear statement of where that money is, that money is available for campaigning for independence, it is accounted for minutely and it will be spent on independence. 

"The procedures used for it were exactly the same procedures we have used for all previous similar funds and there was nothing suspicious or devious about it whatsoever. One of the things we do suffer from is a malice from some people which goes on repeating things even when they are not true.

"I also saw when Nicola [Sturgeon] asked me to take this job on and the NEC confirmed that I saw somebody had admitted to falsifying a tweet to say that I was going to receive part of that money.

"For the record I am not paid for what I do as president of the SNP or in the independence unit. I haven't asked for money and I'm not given money and I'm certainly not paid £600,000. 

"So as far as I am concerned there is no missing money. This is simply not sure and I think the repetition of it is malicious, but there are some people who will go on believing it no matter what.

"The fact the accounting methods have remained the same for a very long time and that the accounts have been fully audited and audited and audited and that they meet all the legal requirements doesn't seem to matter.

"We do sometimes live in a post truth society but there is no missing money, absolutely none and that money will be used for independence and it is not being used on me."