Yesterday, On 29th October, The Karnataka High Court ordered the immediate release of Pralhad Joshi’s brother and nephew, citing delays and circumstances surrounding the complaint. Notably, the complaint was filed six months after the alleged incident, and the petitioner’s counsel assured the court that the full amount in question would be refunded.
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court, On Monday, ordered the immediate release of Gopal Joshi and Ajay Joshi, who are the brother and nephew of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, respectively.
They had been in police custody since October 19.
The pair arrested on the same day in connection with an alleged cheating case involving a promise of an election ticket to complainant Sunitha Chavan, the wife of former JD(S) MLA Devanand Chavan, for the Vijayapura Lok Sabha constituency.
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It claimed that they used the influence of the Union minister to assure her of a ticket in exchange for Rs 2.5 crore, implying that there was consent from Pralhad Joshi.
They faced multiple charges under various sections, including wrongful restraint, causing hurt with dangerous means, criminal breach of trust, cheating, and conspiracy, as well as violations of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Justice M Nagaprasanna stopped all proceedings against the accused and mandated their immediate release.
The court observed that the allegations suggested the petitioners had taken Rs 25 lakh from the complainant prior to the elections and the announcement of candidates. It also noted that the complaint was filed six months after the alleged incident and that the petitioners’ counsel had agreed to refund the full amount.
The court concluded that this situation amounted to a financial dispute rather than a criminal matter. Regarding the charges under the Atrocities Act, the court pointed out that the alleged abusive behaviour occurred within the petitioners’ home and did not take place in a public setting, thus not constituting an offense under the relevant sections of the Act.
This legal move sheds light on the contentious intersection of politics, family relations, and financial transactions, underscoring the importance of transparency and accountability within political circles.