BJP issues show-cause notice to Madhya Pradesh MLA for threatening officer

BJP lawmaker Pritam Lodhi threatened to fill the officer’s house with cow dung as he continued his tirade over the action against his son

Published on: Apr 23, 2026, 15:07:59 IST

By Shruti Tomar

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued a show-cause notice to lawmaker Pritam Lodhi for threatening Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Ayush Jhakar over action against Lodhi’s son for allegedly hitting five people with his sport utility vehicle in Madhya Pradesh’s Karera.

In a letter to Lodhi, state BJP chief Hemant Khandelwal on Wednesday called the lawmaker’s conduct highly objectionable and a violation of the party discipline. “Therefore, submit your clarification within three days, failing which action will be taken against you.”

Lodhi threatened to fill Jhakar’s house with cow dung as he continued his tirade over the action against his son, Dinesh. A video of Lodhi’s remarks went viral on social media on Tuesday, prompting the IPS Association to condemn the remarks and the opposition Congress to demand action against him.

A video last week purportedly showed Dinesh blaming the five accident victims, claiming they did not react to his honks and hooters. Lodhi lashed out two days later after Jhakar summoned Dinesh and warned him not to appear in Karera again. “Does Karera belong to your [Jhakar] father?” My son will go there [Karera] and contest the elections. If your father has the guts, try to stop him. You should know our background,” said Lodhi, who initially appeared to prioritise public sentiment by urging action against his son.

In another video, Lodhi challenged Jhakar and other police officer, asking who was directing their orders from Delhi. “My hand used to be 2.5 kg. But now it has become 250 kg. If they do not clarify within 15 days, who is directing them from Delhi—is it PM [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi, [Union home minister] Amit Shah, or others— I will take 10,000 people to the SDPO [Sub-divisional Police Officer Jhakar]’s house and fill it with cow dung.”

Lodhi argued it was a minor accident, and the police exaggerated it. He accused police of adopting a heavy-handed approach.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shruti Tomar
I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.