In a letter to Justice Michael D’Cunha, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has expressed regret and made an apology for his recent comments regarding the Commission of the Justice.  

A recent interim report from the committee, which was entrusted with looking into possible irregularities during the Covid-19 outbreak, suggested taking action against former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and former Minister B Sriramulu, according to sources. The report alleged that despite the availability of less expensive local alternatives, the then-BJP-led government paid exorbitant prices in exchange for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits.

Speaking at a Shiggaon electoral rally, Joshi attacked Justice D'Cunha over the report, calling him an "agent." However, the minister wrote a letter apologising publicly after his comments caused an uproar. "I am writing to you with reference to the recent statements made by me, which seemingly have raised a controversy. The same has occasioned me to address the present letter", wrote Joshi in a letter. 

“At the outset, I must state that in my long years of public life, there has been no occasion where I have directly or indirectly made any remark or statement which has had a tendency to lower the reputation of any past or present member of the judiciary. I do believe that the judiciary and all the Hon'ble judges form the bulwark of the working of our constitution. They without a doubt have an important role in the sacred duty of discharge of justice," the letter further read. In his letter, Joshi also made it clear that his remarks were not meant to disparage the commission or Justice D'Cunha.

"To set the record straight, it would therefore be necessary to clarify that the statements made by me were only and only in the context of the procedure adopted by the commission in not affording an opportunity to the persons allegedly indicted. It was neither calculated nor designed to bring either you or the commission under any disrepute or to lower your image in the minds of the right-thinking people of the society," said Joshi. He concluded with an apology: "At a personal level I must state that if the statements made by me unintendedly have caused any hurt or misgivings to you I do regret the same and place my sincere apology." Joshi added that he hoped the letter would settle the issue amicably.