Contractor suicide: Eshwarappa says it's a political conspiracy; refuses to resign

Karnataka Minister of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj KS Eshwarappa and two of his aides – Basavaraj and Ramesh – have been booked in a suicide case.

An FIR has also been filed against the minister in connection with the death of a contractor named Santosh Patil. Amid calls for his resignation, Eshwarappa maintained he wouldn’t step down.

“Santosh Patil wanted payment for his work without norms. I want to ask the Congress, did you, when in power, release payment without a work order… If they are asking for my resignation, I will definitely not give my resignation,” Eshwarappa told reporters in Shivamogga.

Seeking a high-level probe into the suicide of Santosh, Eshwarappa said the whole incident is a political conspiracy. Eshwarappa also said he has never seen Santosh Patil.

On Twitter, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai over the death of Patil. “BJP’s 40% Commission Govt in Karnataka has claimed the life of their own Karyakarta. The victim’s pleas to the PM went unanswered. PM & CM are complicit. #BJPCorruptionFiles (sic),” he wrote.

Bommai said he would speak to Eshwarappa.

“An FIR is registered against Eshwarappa. I’m taking all the information. Will talk to Eshwarappa on the phone and I’ll summon him and talk as well,” he said.

The CM has briefed the BJP leadership. According to reports, several ministers want Eshwarappa to resign.

Eshwarappa and his aides have been booked for abetment of suicide. The case was registered in Udipi on the complaint of Patil’s brother Prashanth.

Patil, who had accused Eshwarappa of corruption, was found dead in a lodge in Udupi on Tuesday.

Prashant Patil said: “Eshwarappa is responsible for my brother’s death. He sought a bribe or commission [from contractor Santhosh Patil]. He then filed a defamation case. Patil had received threats too.”

Santhosh Patil allegedly sent a WhatsApp message to his friends stating his intention to take his life, and blaming Eshwarappa for the decision.

According to police, Santosh told his wife he was going on a picnic with his friends and left Belgaum on April 11. On Tuesday, his body was found in Udupi. His two friends were in the same building but in another room.

Kin refuse to accept Santosh’s body

Family members of Santhosh have refused to accept his body until the accused in the case are not arrested.

The Udupi police on Wednesday completed the inquest into the death of Santhosh K Patil. However, the family of Patil, including his brother Prashanth, refused to accept his mortal remains until the three accused mentioned in the FIR are not arrested.

The FIR filed by Udupi town police names Eshwarappa as the first accused in the abetment to suicide case.