Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he will hold one-to-one discussion with Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K.S. Eshwarappa before taking a decision on the need for him to resign from the cabinet in connection with the case filed against him following the suicide of a contractor Santosh Patil.
Speaking to reporters in Mangaluru on April 13, Mr. Bommai said he will discuss with Mr. Eshwarappa the death of contractor Santosh Patil and other developments that have occurred following the incident. “One-to-one discussion will help in taking a decision,” he said and added that the meeting will be held shortly after looking at the schedule of Mr. Eshwarappa.
“There are various aspects regarding the incident, and these will all come out during the investigation, which is being done in a fair manner and without any interference.“
Asked about Congress leaders meeting Governor Thawarchand Gehlot seeking arrest of Mr. Eshwarappa, Mr. Bommai said opposition parties are bound to find mistakes in our actions. The party high command knows about the case and he has shared details related to the incident.
Case against Minister
Udupi Town Police have booked an abetment to suicide case against Rural Development and Panchayatraj Minister K. S. Eshwarappa after the civil contractor Santosh K Patil (36) from Belagavi was found dead in a lodge in Udupi on April 12.
While Mr. Eshwarappa has been named the first accused, Basavaraj and Ramesh, two other aides of the Minister have also been booked under Section 306 read with 34 of IPC. The elder brother of the deceased Prashanth Goudappa Patil filed a complaint with police at 2.20 a.m. on April 13.
Some of the family members of the deceased arrived in Udupi late on April 12. The most-mortem will be conducted on April 13.
The complaint alleges that the minister had demanded 40 % commission for passing the ₹4 crore bills related to civil works done under Hindalaga Gram Panchayat jurisdiction. But the minister has denied the allegation.
Brother demands arrest of Minister
Soon after their arrival in Udupi on April 12 night, Prashant and a relative demanded the arrest of Mr. Eshwarappa and his two aides. “They harassed my brother. Without action against them, we will not take custody of my brother’s body,” Mr. Prashant told reporters.
The Udupi Town police had sealed room no. 207 of the lodge where Santosh Patil’s body was found on April 12 while waiting for the arrival of his family members. Santosh had checked into the lodge with his friends Prashant Shetty and Santosh Medappa on April 11 evening.
