Over the past several days, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) youth leader Shravan Kumar Joshi has been the subject of what party officials describe as attempts to tarnish his reputation in Surat.
A press conference was held on Thursday under the leadership of Surat City AAP President Dharmesh Bhanderi and Surat Lok Sabha In-charge Rajnikant Vaghani to address the matter.
City President Dharmesh Bhanderi said the briefing aimed to present the “factual truths” regarding the alleged campaign against Joshi. He described Joshi as a young volunteer of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh from the Brahmin community of Rajasthan, engaged in the textile business, ideologically nationalist, and active in anti-corruption initiatives. Joshi currently serves as General Secretary of the AAP Youth Wing in Surat.
Bhanderi highlighted Joshi’s recent work in the public interest, including raising concerns about grain distribution irregularities, illegal traffic fines, open sale of meat near temples, liquor dens, and other unlawful activities in the Limbayat area. “Through these actions, he has consistently worked for public awareness and interest. As a result, public trust in the Aam Aadmi Party has increased in the Limbayat area. The fear among people is gradually diminishing, and public sentiment is increasingly turning in favor of AAP,” Bhanderi said.
The AAP leader alleged that local authorities and political figures sought to stop Joshi’s activities. “Local leaders began to fear that if this movement gained further strength, their power would be threatened and illegal activities would be exposed. Hence, they decided that Shravan Joshi must be stopped at any cost,” Bhanderi claimed.
According to Bhanderi, a complaint was filed against Joshi in Limbayat on November 29, which he described as “fabricated and false.” He said Joshi and another individual, Sampat Chaudhary, were taken into custody by the SOG at around 3:30 pm and allegedly assaulted at the SOG office. “Shravan Joshi later informed the court about this assault and filed a complaint. After being detained and beaten, a forced confession was extracted from Sampat Chaudhary under coercion, and a video was recorded. Only after this, at around 6 pm, an FIR was filed against them,” Bhanderi stated.
Bhanderi also pointed to a broader context behind the complaint. He alleged that Kamlesh Khatik, previously involved in a grain diversion case and now reportedly cooperating with authorities, was the complainant in the present matter.
Bhanderi said Joshi had filed a complaint against the SOG DCP, undergone a medical examination, and after his remand was rejected, was sent to Lajpore Jail. A subsequent similar complaint was reportedly filed the following day by another individual.
Addressing the incident, Bhanderi said, “The Aam Aadmi Party will not be intimidated by such conspiracies. Shravan Joshi is not alone, and the entire AAP stands united in this struggle. Our committed workers will continue their fight against grain mafias, corrupt elements, and land mafias.” He cited a similar case in Visavadar, where Junagadh District AAP President Haresh Savaliya was booked and jailed under disputed circumstances, later facing alleged attacks inside the jail.
During the press conference, Bhanderi presented videos released by the police, claiming they showed forced confessions and the fear of Sampat Chaudhary. He also stated that other footage purportedly showing money exchange was misleading, and that no actual transaction occurred.
Videos of local residents highlighted complaints against grain mafias in Limbayat, with citizens reportedly frustrated by irregular ration distributions. Bhanderi said Joshi had visited ration shops in response to such complaints.