'Centre misused CBI to protect Pralhad Joshi's brother'

Congress MLC V S Ugrappa has alleged that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been misused by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance for protecting State BJP president Pralhad Joshi’s brother Gopal Joshi from being convicted in the Canara Bank fraud case.

The CBI had earlier last month acquitted Gopal of fraud charges in the case and filed a ‘B’ report before the CBI special court in Dharwad. Gopal and others were charged with causing a loss of Rs 1.38 crore to the bank.

“The Canara Bank administrative department had recommended stringent action against Gopal and other members of the bank for allowing such large-scale misappropriation. Despite this, how did the CBI file a ‘B’ report in the case?” Ugrappa said. Ugrappa said the BJP had been alleging previously that the CBI was a Congress Bureau of Investigation. Now, the same party is misusing the investigating agency, he said.