Bangalore Police arrest Union Minister Prahlad Joshi and his brother Gopal Joshi for fraud. SC-ST Act Violation Details

Bengaluru Police in Karnataka arrested Gopal Joshi, the brother of Union Minister Prahlad Joshi, from Kolhapur, Maharashtra. The arrest followed a complaint filed by Sunita Chauhan, wife of former Janata Dal MP (Secular) Devanand Chauhan, who accused him of fraud and violations of the SC/ST Act.

In her complaint, Sunita Chauhan alleged that Gopal Joshi had promised to get a ticket for her husband in the upcoming elections after accepting two crore rupees. However, neither the ticket was provided nor the money returned. Following the investigation, the police arrested Gopal Joshi.

‘No relation with my brother’: Union Minister Prahlad Joshi

After the FIR against Gopal Joshi was announced, Union Minister Prahlad Joshi held a press conference, saying he had not had any contact with his brother for over 30 years. He said he filed an affidavit in court and issued a public notice stating that any claims made by individuals claiming to be his brother, relative or friend involved in financial transactions would not bind him.

ALSO READ | Bypolls 2024: BJP fields Navya Haridas against Priyanka Gandhi in Wayanad, announces candidates for 25 seats

Case against Gopal Joshi

On October 18, Basaveshwaranagar police registered a case against Gopal Joshi and a woman named Vijayalakshmi Joshi. The complaint was filed by Sunita Chauhan, who claimed that Gopal had assured the family that he would get a BJP ticket for the Lok Sabha elections scheduled in May. According to the complaint, she started contacting Gopal at his residence in Hubli in north Karnataka in March and later handed over Rs 25 lakh to Vijayalakshmi at her residence in Basaveshwaranagar, acting on Gopal’s instructions.

The complainant also alleged that Vijayalakshmi was introduced as Pralhad Joshi’s sister. However, the Union minister clarified that he did not have any sisters, adding that he had only four brothers, one of whom died in a road accident in 1984.

Meanwhile, Sunita Chavan, the complainant in the Gopal Joshi case, told the media: “Union Minister Prahlad Joshi has no role in this matter. He (Gopal Joshi) is misusing his name.” ANI news agency reported.