Mahesh Joshi is an Indian politician who has been elected as MLA and MP and served as the Minister of PHED and Ground Water in Ashok Gehlot’s cabinet in 2021. He is a long-time member of the Indian National Congress (INC) and has held many important positions in the Rajasthan Congress. He was accused of abetting a person to commit suicide in 2023.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Mahesh Joshi was born on Tuesday, 14 September 1954 (age 68 years; as of 2022) in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. His zodiac sign is Virgo. He was inclined towards Congress ideology since his childhood and was drawn towards social service. After completing his schooling at Manak Chowk Senior Secondary School in Jaipur, he pursued a Master’s degree in Arts (Sociology) from the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur in 1981. He later pursued P.G. Diploma (Journalism) and also pursued PhD (Doctorate) from the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur in 2001. [1]MyNeta
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 9″
Weight (approx.): 70 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family & Caste
He was born into a Brahmin family. [2]Navbharat Times
Parents & Siblings
His father’s name was Late Mool Chand Joshi, and his mother’s name was Late Kaushalya Joshi.
Wife & Children
He got married to Kaushal Joshi on 7 May 1987, and she is a homemaker. He has only one son whose name is Rohit Joshi, and his daughter-in-law’s name is Divya Joshi. He has a granddaughter named Kavya. His son is also a member of the Indian National Congress (INC).
Mahesh Joshi with his wife, Kaushal Joshi
Mahesh Joshi’s son, Rohit Joshi
Mahesh Joshi’s daughter-in-law, Divya Joshi
Mahesh Joshi with his grandaughter Kavya on her first day of school
Religion
He follows Hinduism.
Address
B-20, Sain Colony, Near Railway Station, Jaipur (Rajasthan)
Signature
Career
Politics
He served as President of the Rajasthan Student’s Union from 1979 to 1980. He served as the President of Congress Sevadal from 1988 to 1991. He served as the spokesperson of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress from 1997 to 1999. He served as a member of the Public Accounts Committee and as a member of the House Committee from 1999 to 2000. He served as the Government Deputy Chief Whip of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from 23 March 1999 to 5 December 2003.
Mahesh Joshi speaking at a Congress party workers meeting
He later served as a member of the Committee on Transport for Tourism and Culture. In 2009, he served as a member of the Committee on Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions, Consultative Committee of External Affairs, India-Bahrain Parliamentary Friendship Group, Joint Hindi Salahkar Samiti under the Ministry of Agriculture, and Hindi Salahkar Samiti under the Ministry of Mines. He served as the Government Chief Whip of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from 15 January 2019 to 2 March 2023.
Mahesh Joshi during Bharat Jodo Yatra
MLA, MP, & Minister
He was elected to the 11th Rajasthan Legislative Assembly for the first time as an MLA in 2003 from the Kishanpol constituency in Jaipur. He was elected to the 15th Lok Sabha for the first time as a Member of Parliament (MP) in 2009 from the Jaipur constituency. He was elected to the 15th Rajasthan Legislative Assembly for the second time as an MLA in 2018 from the Hawa Mahal constituency in Jaipur. He took oath as the Minister of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) and Ground Water in the Government of Rajasthan on 21 November 2021.
Mahesh Joshi at his office of PHED and Ground Water Ministry
Controversies
Protecting his son
In May 2022, a 23-year-old girl from Delhi accused Mahesh’s son Rohit of raping her on the pretext of marriage. She alleged that Rohit raped her several times between 8 January 2021, and 17 April 2022. She said that she met Rohit on Facebook in 2021, and their first meeting took place in Jaipur. They again met in Sawai Madhopur on 8 January 2021 where Rohit spiked her drug and took her naked photos and videos. She said that they later went to a hotel in Delhi where they got their names registered as husband and wife. She alleged that Rohit used to drug her, beat her, made obscene videos, and threatened to upload them on social media. She also complained that Rohit promised her that he would marry her after divorcing his wife, and when she got pregnant, he forced her to undergo an abortion. An FIR was registered at Sadar Bazar Police Station, Delhi under the IPC sections 376 (rape), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence), 312 (causing miscarriage), 366 (kidnapping, abducting or inducing a woman to compel her marriage, etc), 377 (unnatural offences) and 506 (criminal intimidation). [3]India Today Reportedly, Rohit went into hiding after this matter was reported by the media. There were some rumours that Mahesh was helping his son; however, Mahesh rubbished those claims and said that his son was innocent and that he would help the police in every possible way.
Will always stand with truth, justice: Mahesh Joshi on rape allegation on his son pic.twitter.com/0nW1RA2vYO
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) May 10, 2022
Rajasthan High Court granted police protection to the girl as she alleged danger to her life. Rohit Joshi was granted anticipatory bail by a local court on 9 June 2022. [4]The Times of India He was interrogated for three hours on 10 June 2022 at the Sadar Bazar police station in Delhi. [5]The Indian Express On 11 June 2022, while the complainant was with her mother in the Kalindi Kunj area of Delhi, a few miscreants threatened her to take back the case and threw a chemical, which looked like ink, on her face. She was taken to AIIMS Delhi where she was admitted to the Trauma Centre. [6]Amar Ujala
Abetment to Suicide
A resident of the Chandi ki Taksal area of Jaipur named Ramprasad Meena committed suicide by hanging on 17 April 2023 at an office of a transport company in the Subhash Chowk area. Before committing suicide, he made a video in which he accused Mahesh Joshi and 6 other people namely the Priest of Girdhari temple Devendra Sharma, Lalit Sharma, the owner of Royal Sheraton hotel Munji Tank, Deva Awasthi, and Lalchand Devnani. He alleged in the video that these people were not allowing him to build his house on his land near Hanuman Temple. He also requested Kirodi Lal Meena, a member of the Rajya Sabha, to do justice to him and his family. Ramprasad’s son Ankit Meena said that his father sent the video to his daughter as he knew that the local police and administration would suppress the case after his death. [7]Amar Ujala [8]The Indian Express
Ramprasad Meena, who committed suicide and accused Mahesh Joshi and 6 others
Reportedly, Ramprasad met Mahesh Joshi as well to help him get justice; however, Mahesh misbehaved with them. Ramprasad’s family protested outside the office where he committed suicide, and his brother lodged an FIR against the accused people at the Subhash Chowk Police Station. Mahesh said while talking to the media that he met with Ram Prasad’s family members on 13 April 2023; however, he did not insult them. He said,
I don’t want to interfere in the police investigation. I want the police to conduct a fair investigation. No written complaint was given to me by the family of the victim.” [9]NDTV
Car Collection
He owns a Mahindra Jeep.
Income
His income in the financial year 2017-18 was Rs 10,17,451. [10]MyNeta
Assets & Properties
Movable Assets
- Cash: Rs. 22,286
- Bank Deposits: Rs. 18,82,532
- Motor Vehicles: Rs. 85,000
- Jewellery: Rs. 7,27,000
- Bonds, Debentures, and Shares in companies: Rs. 10,67,000
- National Saving Scheme & Postal Savings: Rs. 57,29,645
Immovable Assets
- Non-Agricultural Land: Rs. 95,00,000
- Residential Buildings: Rs. 22,41,681
Note: The given estimates of movable and immovable assets are according to the year 2018. It excludes the assets owned by his wife and dependents (minor). [11]MyNeta
Net Worth
Joshi’s net worth for the financial year 2018-19 was estimated to be Rs. 2.5 crores. [12]MyNeta It excludes the net worth of his wife and dependents (minors).
Facts/Trivia
- He is a sports lover, particularly cricket.
Mahesh Joshi at a cricket tournament
- He is a member of the Jai Club, Jaipur and Rambag Golf Club, Jaipur.
- He has toured several countries like Malaysia, Mauritius, Denmark, and U.K.
Mahesh Joshi (right) with a Denmark official on his trip to Denmark
- He became an honorary head of Rajasthan Brahmin Mahasabha in November 2022.
Letter written to announce Mahesh Joshi as Honorary Head of Rajasthan Brahmin Mahasabha
- He is considered a loyalist of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
Mahesh Joshi with Ashok Gehlot at Sawai Man Singh Stadium, Jaipur
References
