The Udupi Police on Wednesday gave a clean chit to BJP leader and former Karnataka minister KS Eshwarappa in a case where his name had cropped up in the alleged suicide of contractor Santosh Patil. Police have filed a closure report in the suicide case and said there was “no evidence” to support the claim that the 73-year-old leader had any role in the case.
State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwarappa resigned from his post on April 15 this year as he was embroiled in a controversy over the death of a contractor who had accused him of bribery. In a one-line resignation letter submitted to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Eshwarappa had said that he was resigning voluntarily.
After resigning from the post of minister, Eshwarappa had said, ‘Maa Chamundeshwari will prove me innocent. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that he would investigate the matter thoroughly. God punish me if I am wrong. The culprits should be punished. I will come back after clean chit. I didn’t want the party to be embarrassed.”
Patil, a contractor from Belagavi, was found dead in a hotel in Udupi after Eshwarappa was accused of demanding 40 per cent commission on a work worth Rs 4 crore. In an purported suicide note in the form of a WhatsApp message, Patil had blamed Eshwarappa for his death.
In March, Patil had reportedly complained to Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh and BJP central leaders that he was yet to be paid Rs 4 crore for the road works carried out in Hindalga village and accused Eshwarappa’s aides. He was accused of demanding 40 per cent commission. Payment release. Based on a complaint by Patil’s relative, the Udupi city police had registered a case of abetment to suicide against Eshwarappa.
Patil’s family had said they were not bothered by Eshwarappa’s resignation and demanded his arrest.
At that time Eshwarappa not only denied the allegations but also filed a defamation suit against Patil.
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