Cong councillor arrested in liquor seizure

Vadodara: Congress councillor Ashish Joshi was arrested by the Chhota Udepur police from Ahmedabad on Wednesday night in connection with a liquor seizure case registered in April.

Joshi was produced before a court, which remanded him to one day of police custody.

“The Sankheda police had earlier questioned Joshi and recorded his statement, but he was not arrested at that time. He was arrested on Wednesday and the court granted one day of police custody,” said advocate Hitesh Gupta, Joshi’s lawyer.

In April, the Chhota Udepur police had seized a stock of liquor during an operation. During the investigation, police allegedly found that the consignment was meant to be delivered to Joshi.

The Sankheda police registered an FIR in connection with the seizure. According to the police, accused Pramod Pandey stated during questioning that he had procured the liquor from Kawant and was supposed to deliver it to Joshi. Joshi denied the allegations and claimed that he was being targeted.

Joshi was suspended from the BJP last year on the grounds of allegedly damaging the party’s image. He later joined Congress and won the civic polls from Ward 15 on the party’s ticket.