Pralhad Joshi’s kin accused of swindling Rs crore

Bengaluru: Basaveshwaranagar police Thursday registered an FIR against Union minister Pralhad Joshi's brother Gopal Joshi, sister Vijay Lakshmi Joshi, nephew Ajay Joshi, based on a complaint filed by the wife of former MLA Devanand Fulasing Chavan, accusing them of cheating her of around Rs 2 crore.
Sunitha Chavan, a resident of Yeshwantpur, told police she and her husband were told by Gopal that he would get the former MLA a BJP ticket in 2024 May Lok Sabha elections if he was paid Rs 5 crore.
The couple paid Gopal Rs 25 lakh cash and gave a cheque for Rs 5 crore as surety. The cheque was issued in favour of Gopal's sister, Vijaya Lakshmi. However, Gopal didn't get a seat for Chavan. When the couple asked him to give their money back, Gopal returned the cheque and sought some time to return Rs 25 lakh. Gopal later convinced the couple into giving him Rs 1.7 crore more and promised to return it in 20 days. The couple paid Gopal the money, but didn't get it back after a month.
On Aug 1, when they went to Vijaya Lakshmi's house to ask for the money, she allegedly manhandled them and made derogatory comments about their caste.