Contractor suicide row: Countdown begins for minister KS Eshwarappa's resignation

Bengaluru, Apr 14: Karnataka Minister KS Eshwarappa, whose name appeared in the alleged suicide case of contractor Santosh Patil, will submit his resignation to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday even as the Congress is demanding the government to arrest him.

As per the reports, KS Eshwarappa will be meeting Bommai to handover his resignation letter.

Addressing a press meet on Thursday, Eshwarappa said, "I have served as the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister in the Karnataka government. I have taken a decision today to resign from my ministerial position."

He further said he would tender his resignation letter to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday. The Minister was booked on Wednesday in connection with the suspected suicide of civil contractor Santosh K Patil, who was found dead in a hotel in Udupi.

The contractor had accused the minister and his close aides of demanding 40 per cent commission for executing a civic work in Hindalga village in Belagavi in 2021 ahead of a village festival.

"I decided to resign because I don't want to put in an uncomfortable situation those who helped me rise to this position, such as seniors in the party, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and our national leaders," Eshwarappa added.

Talking to the media, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said, "State Min KS Eshwarappa has decided to resign on his own & will tender his resignation today evening. No need for the opposition to become an investigation officer or judge as everything will come out after probe.''

On Thursday, Bommai said Santosh Patil's suicide case will be thoroughly investigated and the truth will come out, and only based on the preliminary inquiry the government will decide on taking action against Eshwarappa.

"There is no interference of (BJP) high command on this issue, they have only obtained information, they don't have any role in it. As I have said first time itself, action will be taken based on the preliminary inquiry, let the preliminary inquiry happen,"

Santosh Patil, a Belagavi-based contractor was found dead in an Udupi hotel on Tuesday, weeks after accusing Eshwarappa, who is also a senior BJP leader, of corruption.

In a purported suicide note in the form of a WhatsApp message, Patil has blamed Eshwarappa for his death. Based on a complaint filed by Patil's relative, Udupi town police have booked Eshwarappa for abetting the suicide.