New claims surface in former minister Deepak Joshi family dispute:Second wife alleges forced sale of her house to fund election campaign

The controversy surrounding former Madhya Pradesh minister Deepak Joshi and his marriages has expanded beyond social media trolling and remarks such as “small peanut.” The family dispute now includes serious allegations involving election funding, honey-trap claims, and attempts to influence the judiciary. Recently, Deepak Joshi and his alleged third wife, Pallavi Raj Saxena, filed a complaint at Bhopal’s Shahpura police station against Shikha Joshi, accusing her of defaming them through a WhatsApp group. In response, Shikha has levelled a series of counter-allegations and shared documents related to complaints she says she filed with the Police Commissioner and Shahpura police station earlier this year. In a conversation with Dainik Bhaskar, she made several revelations against Deepak Joshi. She also shared documents of complaints filed with the Police Commissioner and Shahpura police station in January this year. Read the report… ‘He made me sell my house to finance his election’ Shikha Joshi accused Deepak Joshi of financial and mental exploitation. She claimed that in 2016 he misled her into marriage by falsely stating that he had divorced his first wife. According to Shikha, when Joshi later secured a Congress ticket from the Khategaon Assembly constituency, he lacked the funds to contest the election and pressured her into selling her house to finance his campaign. She further alleged that during the Khategaon election, he repeatedly asked her to arrange money for political activities in Bagli and Hatpipliya as well. Shikha claimed she possesses voice recordings in which Joshi allegedly says that he was able to contest the election only because of her financial support. Claims of honey trap and alleged remarks about judiciary Shikha also made allegations concerning Joshi’s personal life and his reported third marriage. She alleged that he was under the influence of a woman involved in a honey-trap scheme. According to her, Joshi had claimed that after contracting COVID-19, his mental condition was affected and that members of the woman’s family forced him into the marriage. She further alleged that Joshi spoke about “managing” a judge and “buying the law,” adding that she possesses audio recordings to support these claims. These allegations have not been independently verified. ‘He is also an admin of a WhatsApp group’ Deepak Joshi had earlier accused Shikha of creating a WhatsApp group to defame him by using derogatory descriptions such as “toothless old man” and “small peanut.” Shikha acknowledged creating the group but said its purpose was to warn other women and protect them from alleged exploitation by Joshi. She also alleged that Joshi and his alleged third wife, Pallavi Saxena, administer another WhatsApp group. According to Shikha, Hardeep Singh Ruby—who she says signed as a witness in both of Joshi’s marriages—is also a member of that group. ‘Harassment began as my political profile grew’ Shikha said she works on major NGO initiatives at the Delhi and central levels and has been honoured with an “International Atal Bihari Vajpayee Award” for her contributions to social service. She alleged that as her political and social profile grew over the past year, Joshi became uncomfortable with her rising prominence and began mentally and physically harassing her in an attempt to pressure her into giving up her work. Matter involves competing allegations The dispute currently consists of allegations and counter-allegations made by the parties involved. Complaints have been submitted to the police, and the claims made by either side have not been independently established through judicial findings.