Bhopal: Caretaker Assaults 99-Year-Old Ex-DGP, Flees With Cash, No FIR So Far

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Retired Director General of Police (DGP) HM Joshi was allegedly assaulted by his caretaker at his Arera Colony residence on Wednesday. Ninety-nine-year-old Joshi has submitted a written complaint to the Habibganj police, although an FIR had not been registered till late evening.

In his complaint, Joshi stated he had hired the caretaker, Rafiq, through a private agency and paid him Rs 20,000 per month. On Wednesday, while Joshi was alone at home, Rafiq allegedly grabbed him by the neck and demanded money.

The incident took a turn when Joshi's domestic help, Geeta, walked in, prompting Rafiq to flee. Later, Joshi discovered cash missing from the house, along with a small metal idol of Lord Ganesh, suspected to have been stolen by the same caretaker. When Joshi tried contacting the agency that arranged Rafiq's services, they allegedly failed to respond adequately.

Joshi has urged police to initiate action against the accused caretaker and demanded regular patrolling in the vicinity of his residence to ensure his safety. Joshi, a 1948-batch IPS officer, served as DGP of Madhya Pradesh in the 1980s. He is also the father of IAS officer Arvind Joshi, who passed away in 2022.

Habibganj police station in-charge Sanjeev Chouksey said that investigations are underway. Meanwhile, a close family member said Joshi was reluctant to pursue legal proceedings due to hassles involved, but requested police to ensure his well-being and safety checks regularly.