Madhya Pradesh Congress chief’s brother held in Indore drug case; Congress criticizes BJP government

Nana Patwari, brother of state Congress chief Jitu Patwari, at Rajendra Nagar police station in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday July 9, 2026. Photo Credit: X/ANI

Kulbhushan alias Nana Patwari, brother of Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari, has been taken into custody by the Indore police in connection with a drug smuggling case, officials said on Thursday (July 9, 2026), prompting it to accuse the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of “indulging” in politics.

According to the police, Mr Kulbhushan and Manav Gangwani were detained for questioning after their names came up during questioning of two men who were arrested on Thursday (July 9) with 10.8 grams of the narcotic.

Indore Zone 1 Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Narendra Rawat told The Hindu that Mr Kulbhushan and Mr Gangwani are currently being questioned and that further legal action will be taken based on the evidence from the investigation.

The detention drew a sharp response from various Congress leaders as Mr. Patwari hit out at Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and said his brother was taken into custody without any notice.

“Chief Minister Ji, Indore police took my brother into custody without any warning and sent this political message that BJP is now ‘retaliating’! The grudge is over: anyone who raises voice against those in power/Chief Minister will be suppressed, even with the support of ‘law’!” Mr. Patwari wrote on X.

“I knew that because of the government’s personal malice, false legal action would surely be taken against me and my family! Let me say it again! We will not fear or bow to this policy of legal pressure/influence! Instead, we will fight the ground battle with even more strength!” he said.

Mr. Rawat said two men — Irfan Khan alias Gold Chanderi and Sanjay Kaushal alias Ronny — were arrested on intelligence and that 10.8 grams of brown sugar and an SUV were recovered from them. FIR under Section 8/21 of NDPS Act at Rajendra Nagar Police Station.

“During interrogation, the accused revealed that they were going to deliver drugs to Nana Patwari alias Kulbhushan Patwari and Manav Gangwani. Both persons have been detained and are being interrogated,” he said.

Mr Rawat also said there were nine pending criminal cases against Mr Kulbhushan and that the records of the other three men were being checked.

“Investigation and investigation of the case is on. Whatever facts emerge during the investigation and if other individuals connected to this network are found to be involved, strict legal action will be taken against them as per the provisions of law,” the DCP said.

Advocate Jai Hardia, Mr. Kulbhushan’s lawyer, said the police had not given him information about the case in which he was arrested.

“He was arrested around 1:30 p.m. Police said he is in custody, but we have not received much information about the case. Police say he will be released if nothing is found against him in the investigation. More details of the charges will emerge as they come to light,” he said.

Published – 9 Jul 2026 22:27 IST