The Udupi police have booked Karnataka minister K S Eshwarappa after a contractor Santosh Patil involved in government projects was found dead in a hotel in the town Tuesday.
Patil had said that Eshwarappa should be held responsible if something happened to him.
The minister was booked under Section 306 (abetment to suicide) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Two of the minister’s aides have also been mentioned in the First Information Report (FIR).
Santosh Patil, 40, was found dead at Shambhavi Hotel in Udupi on Tuesday morning.
Patil, who was also a BJP member, had raised allegations against rural development minister Eshwarappa, saying that the BJP leader had been harassing him for commissions to clear the bills for contracts he had implemented for the government over a year ago.
Confirming the FIR, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said, “Yes FIR registered (against KS Eswarappa over the death of contractor Santosh Patil). Have gathered all info…I will speak with Eshwarappa….I don’t know what he (Eshwarappa) said (about resignation). It will be cleared when we speak directly…”
The Congress party has demanded the dismissal of Eshwarappa.
“We have appealed to the Governor to dismiss KS Eshwarappa, get him arrested…Secondly, a corruption case should be registered against him given that he would seek 40% commission from his own people, including contractor Santosh Patil, ANI quoted Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar as saying.
