Madhya Pradesh Congress Chief's Brother Detained in Indore Drug Case

Kulbhushan Patwari, also known as Nana Patwari, the brother of Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari, was taken into custody by Indore Police on Thursday in connection with a drug trafficking case, according to officials. The detention has drawn criticism from Congress leaders, who accuse the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of using the law for political vendetta.

Indore Zone 1 Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Narendra Rawat stated that Kulbhushan and Manav Gangwani were detained for questioning after their names emerged during the interrogation of two men arrested earlier with 10.8 grams of a narcotic substance. The arrested individuals, identified as Irfan Khan alias Gold Chanderi and Sanjay Kaushal alias Ronny, were taken into custody based on intelligence inputs. An SUV was also recovered from them. A case has been registered under Section 8/21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Rajendra Nagar police station.

“During the questioning, the accused revealed that they were going to deliver the drugs to Nana Patwari alias Kulbhushan Patwari and Manav Gangwani. Both individuals have been detained and are being interrogated,” DCP Rawat said. He added that there are nine pending criminal cases against Kulbhushan Patwari, and records of other individuals are being checked. The investigation is ongoing, and strict legal action will be taken against anyone found involved.

Jitu Patwari, the Congress state chief, reacted sharply on social media, accusing Chief Minister Mohan Yadav of personal malice and a political vendetta. He wrote on X: “Chief Minister Ji, Indore Police has taken my brother into custody without any notice, sending this political message that the BJP is now taking ‘revenge’! The grudge is over this: anyone who raises their voice against those in power/the Chief Minister will be suppressed, even with the support of ‘law’!” He further stated that he and his family would not be intimidated.

Kulbhushan's lawyer, Jai Hardia, said the police did not provide details about the case. “He was detained around 1.30 p.m. The police said that he is in their custody but we have not been given much information about the case. Police are saying that he will be released if nothing is found against him in the investigation. More details will emerge only after he comes out,” Hardia said.

The case highlights tensions between the ruling BJP and opposition Congress in Madhya Pradesh, with both sides trading allegations over the use of state machinery.