File Picture : Twitter / ANI
A case has been registered against Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) minister K S Eshwarappa for abetment of suicide in connection with the death of a civil contractor, police said on Wednesday. They said Eshwarappa has been named as the first accused in the case.
The FIR was registered based on a complaint from Prashanth Patil, brother of Santhosh Patil, who had levelled bribery charges against the senior minister earlier. Patil was found dead at a lodge in Udupi in a case of suspected suicide.
The complaint by Prashanth named minister Eshwarappa and his staff members Ramesh and Basavaraj as the accused.
Yes FIR registered (against KS Eswarappa over the death of contractor Santosh Patil). Have gathered all info…I will speak with Eshwarappa I don’t know what he (Eshwarappa) said (about resignation). It will be cleared when we speak directly., Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai told ANI
In the complaint, Prashanth Patil contented his brother had undertaken works worth Rs 4 crore in Hindalaga village. Santhosh had invested his money in the project and the bill for the work was pending.
Santhosh had visited minister Eshwarappa several times and had pleaded him to release the amount. But his close aid Basavaraj and Ramesh were demanding 40 percent commission, the complaint alleged.
Meanwhile, a forensic team examined the evidence at the spot where Patil was found dead.
Congress delegation including DK Shivakumar and former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah submits a letter to Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot demanding sacking of state minister KS Eshwarappa over contractor Santosh Patil’s death pic.twitter.com/3FvmtgQnoa
— ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2022
Patil’s death had on Tuesday triggered a major political row with the Congress demanding the ouster of Eshwarappa even as its senior leader Rahul Gandhi had targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and state Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai over the issue.
Karnataka Min KS Eshwarappa, Basavaraja & Ramesh (Eshwarappa’s close aides)must be arrested; want justice for our brother.Everybody whose names mentioned in FIR must be arrested, till then we’ll not take my brother’s body, Prashant Patil, deceased contractor Santosh Patil’s brother told ANI
We have appealed to the Governor to dismiss KS Eshwarappa, get him arrested…Secondly, a corruption case should be registered against him given that he would seek 40% commission from his own people, including contractor Santosh Patil(who later died by suicide), DK Shivakumar, state Congress president.
