Lok Sabha ticket-cheating case: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi’s brother, nephew remanded in police custody

Sunitha Chavan, wife of former JD(S) MLA Devanand Chavan, had filed a complaint with the Basaveshwara Nagar police in Bengaluru alleging that Gopal Joshi had cheated her of Rs 2.5 crore by promising her husband a BJP ticket for the Bijapur Lok Sabha constituency.

Thereafter, a case was filed under sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to cheating, criminal breach of trust, and conspiracy along with sections of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Gopal Joshi and Ajay Joshi were nabbed in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur and Pune, respectively, and brought to Bengaluru late Saturday night. After completing formal arrest procedures, they were presented before a magistrate and placed in police custody for further investigation.

Also, one Vijaya Kumari, who falsely posed as Pralhad Joshi’s sister under the name Vijayalakshmi Joshi, was remanded in 10-day police custody. She and alleged co-conspirator Somashekar Nayak, who remains in judicial custody, were arrested earlier.