Karnataka Minister Refuses To Resign Over Contractor's Suicide: 10 Points

Karnataka minister KS Eshwarappa has been named in a police case in connection with the suicide of a contractor, who was found dead in a lodge in Udupi yesterday after accusing him of corruption.

The First Information Report or FIR accuses the minister of driving contractor Santosh Patil to suicide. Mr Eshwarappa's two associates, Basavaraj and Ramesh, have also been named in the FIR.

Santosh Patil had accused the minister's associates of demanding a 40 per cent commission to clear his bill for the Rs 4 crore work he had carried out in Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department.

In his purported suicide note, he alleged that Mr Eshwarappa was responsible for his death. "RDPR minister KS Eshwarappa is solely responsible for my death. I am taking this decision, keeping my aspirations aside," Mr Patil wrote.

Sources say the BJP leadership in Delhi is reportedly discussing action against the minister and he could be asked to quit. Arun Singh, BJP national general secretary in-charge of Karnataka, said a decision on this will be taken soon.

Mr Eshwarappa, however, today refused to resign. "Santosh Patil wanted payment for his work without norms. I want to ask Congress, did you, when in power, release payment without a work order," he said.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he will hold a one-on-one discussion with Mr Eshwarappa before taking a decision on the need for him to resign. "I don't know what he said about resignation. It will be clear when we speak directly. Accordingly, we will take a decision," the Mr Bommai said.

A Karnataka Congress delegation led by state party chief DK Shivakumar, and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot this morning, demanding the expulsion of Mr Eshwarappa from the state cabinet as well as his arrest over the contractor's death.

Siddaramaiah said similar allegations were levelled against the then Home Minister KJ George in 2017 in connection with the suicide of Deputy Superintendent of Police, MK Ganapathy. "As a Chief Minister, I had accepted his resignation then. The same precedence must be followed now," he said.

The Chief Minister said that the Opposition are trying to "find fault in the incident" and the truth will surface after the probe. He reiterated that there will not be any interference in the case and the inquiry will happen in accordance with the law.

Prashant Patil, brother of Santosh Patil, demanded the arrest of Karnataka Minister KS Eshwarappa and his close aides Ramesh and Basawaraj. "Eshwarappa is responsible for my brother's death. He sought a bribe or commission from my brother. He then filed a defamation case," he said.