"Separated 32 years back...no connection with Gopal Joshi": Union Minister Pralhad Joshi

New Delhi [India], October 18 : Following an FIR against Union Minister Pralhad Joshi's kin, the Union Minister on Friday clarified he had separated himself from his brother Gopal Joshi more than three decades, and said he had filed an affidavit in the court and also published a public notice saying that anyone claiming to be his brother, relatives or friends and indulging in any financial business will not be binding on him.
"At the outset, I would like to point out a glaring mistake in the FIR stating that someone by the name of Vijaylakshmi is my sister. This is highly nonfactual as I don't have any sister," Joshi said addressing the press conference on Friday.
He further said that he has four brothers and one of the brothers passed away earlier, adding that he has no sister.
"We are three brothers. Myself and Gopal have been separated for more than 32 years. On earlier occasions when he (Gopal) faced some allegations on his conduct, I had bought injunction from City Civil Court, Bengaluru for linking my name with him. The details are clearly stated in the affidavit placed before the Court on 22.11.2013. As per the affidavit, the plaintiff (i.e. me) and Gopal V. Joshi have separated since more than 20 years (now around 32 years)," he said.
"My Affidavit before the Court says, 'In this connection, they have executed a Family Arraignment Deed or Vaivastha Pathra on 17.03.2012. Therefore, they do not constitute any joint family status or any joint transactions socially and financially. The plaintiff is not at all connected with him in any manner or with his profession and transaction'," he added.
He further said that "It is pertinent to mention here that I had also published an advertisement in leading local dailies on 9.11.2012 that whosoever quotes my name for getting work done or any such claims that they are relatives, brother, friends etc., I am no way connected and responsible for such claim of others," he said.
He further said that he has no connection whatsoever with my brother and has no link with him.
"I would once again repeat that I have had no connection whatsoever with my brother Mr. Gopal Joshi for the last 32 years. We are also not in talking terms also. The extracts of the Affidavit and copy of Advertisement published in the newspaper are enclosed," he said.
He further said that since the FIR is filed let there be an investigation and let the law take its own course.
"I will not come in the way of investigation," he said.
Notably, Prahlad Joshi's brother Gopal Joshi and sister Vijay Lakshmi Joshi and Gopal Joshi's son Ajay Joshi have been booked for allegedly promising a BJP ticket to Sunita Chauhan's husband Devananda Pul Singh Chouhan in the Lok Sabha elections by allegedly using Prahlad Joshi's influence.
Sunita Chauhan filed a complaint against Prahlad Joshi's brother Gopal Joshi, sister Vijayalakshmi and Gopal Joshi's son Ajay Joshi at the Basaveshwar Nagar police station. The police filed an FIR on Thursday at five o'clock in the evening.