Union Minister Prahlad Joshi’s Brother, 2 Others Booked For 'Cheating' Ex-JD(S) MLA's Wife

The complaint was lodged by Sunitha Chauhan, the wife of former JD(S) MLA Devnand Chauhan, who claims that Gopal Joshi had promised her a BJP ticket for the Bijapur constituency.

Gopal Joshi promised ticket in exchange of money citing his influence with top party officials.

Source : X

Gopal Joshi, the brother of Union Minister Prahlad Joshi, is facing fraud allegations after being accused of cheating a couple by promising a BJP Lok Sabha election ticket in the 2024 general elections. The Basaveshwaranagar police in Bengaluru have officially registered a case against Gopal Joshi, along with his sister Vijayalakshmi Joshi and son Ajay Joshi, on charges of fraud and caste-based abuse, as reported by The Hindu.

The complaint was lodged by Sunitha Chauhan, the wife of former JD(S) MLA Devnand Chauhan, who claims that Gopal Joshi had promised her a BJP ticket for the Bijapur constituency, citing his influence with top party officials. According to Sunitha, she paid Rs 25 lakh initially after borrowing from others and provided a cheque worth Rs 5 crore as security in anticipation of securing the ticket, as reported by The News Minute. However, despite the payments in installments, the promised ticket did not materialize, prompting her to seek a refund of the money.

The FIR reveals that Gopal Joshi had initially requested Rs 5 crore in exchange for the ticket. When Sunitha Chauhan pressed for the return of her money, she alleged that she faced threats, physical assault, and caste-based abuse. The case, filed on October 17, includes charges under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, which addresses caste-based insults.

The Basaveshwaranagar police have initiated an investigation into the matter. So far, Gopal Joshi, his sister Vijayalakshmi, and son Ajay have not responded to the allegations. The case has garnered significant attention due to the involvement of a Union Minister’s family and the serious nature of the charges.

On FIR against kin of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Karnataka Home Minister G Parmeshwara said, "Some of the accused have been arrested and they are looking for Gopal Joshi. Once he is arrested, we will know more about him... Gopal Joshi is absconding at the moment... Once the investigation is completed, then we will know who is involved."