Union Minister Pralhad Joshi's brother arrested in ₹2 crore cheating case involving JD(S) leader's wife

Bengaluru Police arrested Gopal Joshi, brother of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, on Saturday, following a cheating complaint lodged by Sunita Chavan, the wife of former JD(S) MLA Devavand Phool Singh Chavan. The arrest stems from allegations that Gopal Joshi defrauded Chavan of ₹2 crore under the pretense of securing a BJP ticket for her family in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled for May 2024.

The complaint details an incident that began in March when Sunita approached Gopal at his Hubballi residence, seeking assistance in obtaining a BJP ticket for her family. She alleges that Gopal assured her he could facilitate this, and at his instruction, she delivered ₹25 lakh to a woman named Vijayalakshmi Joshi. Sunita claims Vijayalakshmi was introduced to her as Pralhad Joshi's sister, leading her to believe she was dealing with a trusted connection.

After not receiving the anticipated BJP ticket, Sunita claims she confronted Gopal, who then promised to return her money. He allegedly told her he was on the verge of securing a lucrative ₹200 crore project and requested an additional ₹1.75 crore. Sunita complied, but when the agreed-upon return of funds failed to materialize, she sought answers but was met with silence. Reports indicate that the total amount given by Sunita to Gopal was approximately ₹2 crore, paid in various instalments.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda confirmed the allegations, stating that Gopal and Vijayalakshmi were booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for cheating. As part of the investigation, police are probing the circumstances surrounding the financial transactions and examining any potential involvement of additional individuals.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has made it clear that he has disassociated himself from Gopal for over three decades. He pointed out that he had previously filed an affidavit and published a public notice stating that any claims of familial ties or financial dealings with Gopal would not bind him. In his statement, Pralhad Joshi emphasized that he has only three brothers, one of whom died in a road accident in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, in 1984. He firmly stated, "I do not have a sister," contradicting claims made by the complainant regarding Vijayalakshmi’s relationship to him. Gopal Joshi was initially detained in Savadatti but was confirmed to have been arrested in Kolhapur before being transferred to Bengaluru for further questioning.