A day after the death of a contractor who had accused Karnataka Minister KS Eshwarappa of corruption, an FIR was filed against the BJP leader on the charge of abetment to suicide, the police said on Wednesday, 13 April.
Even as the Congress resumed its push for the minister's dismissal from the Karnataka cabinet, Eshwarappa stressed on Wednesday that he would not tender his resignation.
A case was registered by the Udupi Police under Indian Penal Code Section 306 (abetment to suicide), naming Eshwarappa and two of his aides – Basavaraj and Ramesh. The FIR is based on a complaint lodged by the brother of the deceased contractor.
This comes after BJP member and contractor Santhosh Patil, who had accused the Karnataka rural development and panchayat raj (RDPR) minister of taking bribes, was found dead in Udupi on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Patil’s body has been shifted to KMC Hospital in Manipal for the post mortem. The family had protested against the movement of body, demanding the arrest of Eshwarappa first.
On Tuesday, the brother of the deceased had reiterated the demand for justice for his brother and said that Patil's body will not be taken by the family till arrests are made in the case, news agency ANI reported.
'No Question of Me Resigning': Eshwarappa After Meet With CM
The state minister met with Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai later on Wednesday and asserted that there is "no question of me resigning as a minister."
"The death note is false propaganda. I have informed CM Bommai and the party president that there is no question of me resigning as a minister," ANI quoted Eshwarappa as saying.
Earlier, the Karnataka CM Basavaraj had said that he will speak to Minister KS Eshwarappa:
"Yes, an FIR has been registered (against KS Eswarappa). I had gathered all information, today I will talk to Eshwarappa. I am going to talk to him (Eshwarappa) now, will take information from him... I don't know what he had spoken (about resigning, will talk to him one to one, that's when I will understand clearly, after the discussion we will take a decision. "
"Opposition Party is trying to find fault in the case. Once the inquiry is done the truth will be revealed. Who had played the main role behind this, the background is very important in this entire case," he added.
Meanwhile, a Congress delegation including DK Shivakumar and former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah submitted a letter to Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot on Tuesday morning, demanding sacking of state minister KS Eshwarappa. After the meeting, Shivakumar said that the governor had assured the Congress delegation that he will discuss the matter with concerned authorities.
CM Bommai on Monday, too, had said that there is "no question" of Karnataka minister KS Eshwarappa resigning, and that the police will investigate the case and there will be an impartial probe.
On Tuesday, Social and Democratic Party of India workers protested as CM Basavaraj Bommai’s convoy passed by in Mangaluru.
What Had Happened?
Santhosh Patil, who hailed from Hindalaga in Belagavi, had been missing since Monday, 11 April. A day later, his body was found in a lodge in Udupi. As per preliminary investigations, the contractor had died by suicide.
Patil had earlier accused Eshwarappa of asking for a bribe of 40 percent of the total cost of a project, demanding a commission to the tune of Rs 4 crore for the construction of a road in Belagavi's Higaldo village.
Police officials are investigating a text message he purportedly sent to his friends stating that he had decided to end his life and that Eshwarappa was "solely responsible for his death."
Addressing reporters after the news broke, the Karnataka minister denied having links with Patil's suspected suicide.
"I had lodged a defamation case against the person who accused me. He should have fought it in the court, I'm nowhere related to his suicide. I've not met him, there is no question of my resignation," KS Eshwarappa said.
Meanwhile, the state unit of the Congress protested against Eshwarappa, and demanded his arrest. While Congress Leader DK Shivakumar demanded a timely judicial inquiry into Santhosh Patil’s death, Opposition and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that it was clear that the incident was a 'murder'.
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