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UDUPI/BENGALURU: Pressure is mounting on Karnataka minister KS Eshwarappa to resign after Udupi police filed an FIR against him on Wednesday for abetment of suicide in connection with the death of a 40-year-old civil contractor who had levelled bribery allegations against him.
“The question of tendering my resignation does not arise,” said Eshwarappa, who is minister for rural development and panchayat raj, arguing that a WhatsApp message “cannot be treated as a death note as it is not signed”. He was referring to the text purportedly sent by contractor Santosh K Patil to reporters and friends before his death on Tuesday. “Santosh Patil has not written any death note,” the minister said.
Chief minister Bommai said he would speak to Eshwarappa before taking a decision.
Meanwhile, in a fallout of contractor Patil’s death, the Karnataka State Contractors’ Association has threatened to stop all ongoing work for a month to protest what it claimed were “continued” demands for kickbacks from government departments. The association has also planned a protest rally on May 25 in Bengaluru and said over 50,000 contractors from across the state are expected to participate.
Association chairman D Kempanna and other officebearers said they would release documents to show corruption “by five to six ministers and 20 lawmakers” if CM Basavaraj Bommai did not, in the next 15 days, end graft involved in awarding tenders for developmental works and clearance of bills. Kempanna alleged that the entire government, “including the CM’s office”, is involved in the commission racket. “Ministers and MLAs are directly demanding 40% commission for awarding tenders for government works. They have appointed area-wise agents to collect commission,” he said.
Following Patil’s death, an FIR has been registered in which state rural development minister Eshwarappa has been named as the first accused, and his aides Basavaraj, Ramesh and others have also been booked under IPC Section 306 read with Sec 34. Congress said it would gherao Bommai’s home on Thursday and would hold a week-long protest to push for Eshwarappa’s resignation.
Eshwarappa demanded a probe into Patil’s suicide, calling it a “conspiracy”. He said the BJP high command had not contacted him over the issue. “Did he die on his own or for some other reason must be probed,” he said. “A probe has to be conducted to find out who is behind the conspiracy to fix me. I have never met Patil… I want to know who sponsored his Delhi trip.” He was referring to Patil’s Delhi visit in March.
Police officials said Patil died after drinking fruit juice laced with poison. “He was found lying dead in the lodge room, wearing a saffron shawl…,” an official said.
The complaint says in 2020-21, residents of Hindalaga called on Eshwarappa in Bengaluru and requested him to lay roads, construct stormwater drains and pavements in the village, a police officer said. Eshwarappa reportedly gave the nod to start work and Patil was awarded the contract. The complainant contended that his brother had undertaken works worth Rs 4 crore in the village. He had invested his personal money in the project and the bill for the work was pending. Patil visited Eshwarappa several times and pleaded with him to release the amount but the minister’s close aides, Basavaraj and Ramesh, were demanding a 40% commission, he alleged.
“The question of tendering my resignation does not arise,” said Eshwarappa, who is minister for rural development and panchayat raj, arguing that a WhatsApp message “cannot be treated as a death note as it is not signed”. He was referring to the text purportedly sent by contractor Santosh K Patil to reporters and friends before his death on Tuesday. “Santosh Patil has not written any death note,” the minister said.
Chief minister Bommai said he would speak to Eshwarappa before taking a decision.
Meanwhile, in a fallout of contractor Patil’s death, the Karnataka State Contractors’ Association has threatened to stop all ongoing work for a month to protest what it claimed were “continued” demands for kickbacks from government departments. The association has also planned a protest rally on May 25 in Bengaluru and said over 50,000 contractors from across the state are expected to participate.
Association chairman D Kempanna and other officebearers said they would release documents to show corruption “by five to six ministers and 20 lawmakers” if CM Basavaraj Bommai did not, in the next 15 days, end graft involved in awarding tenders for developmental works and clearance of bills. Kempanna alleged that the entire government, “including the CM’s office”, is involved in the commission racket. “Ministers and MLAs are directly demanding 40% commission for awarding tenders for government works. They have appointed area-wise agents to collect commission,” he said.
Following Patil’s death, an FIR has been registered in which state rural development minister Eshwarappa has been named as the first accused, and his aides Basavaraj, Ramesh and others have also been booked under IPC Section 306 read with Sec 34. Congress said it would gherao Bommai’s home on Thursday and would hold a week-long protest to push for Eshwarappa’s resignation.
Eshwarappa demanded a probe into Patil’s suicide, calling it a “conspiracy”. He said the BJP high command had not contacted him over the issue. “Did he die on his own or for some other reason must be probed,” he said. “A probe has to be conducted to find out who is behind the conspiracy to fix me. I have never met Patil… I want to know who sponsored his Delhi trip.” He was referring to Patil’s Delhi visit in March.
Police officials said Patil died after drinking fruit juice laced with poison. “He was found lying dead in the lodge room, wearing a saffron shawl…,” an official said.
The complaint says in 2020-21, residents of Hindalaga called on Eshwarappa in Bengaluru and requested him to lay roads, construct stormwater drains and pavements in the village, a police officer said. Eshwarappa reportedly gave the nod to start work and Patil was awarded the contract. The complainant contended that his brother had undertaken works worth Rs 4 crore in the village. He had invested his personal money in the project and the bill for the work was pending. Patil visited Eshwarappa several times and pleaded with him to release the amount but the minister’s close aides, Basavaraj and Ramesh, were demanding a 40% commission, he alleged.
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