Tale of two contractor suicides: When BJP’s Eshwarappa got clean chit; so what about Priyank Kharge?

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Information Technology and Bio-Technology (ITBT) Minister Priyank Kharge is in the eye of the storm because of an alleged aide of being accused of aiding and abetting the suicide of a contractor from Bidar. The Opposition BJP has been demanding Priyank’s dismissal from the Cabinet, which has been rejected by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar. The saffron party also demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) citing the impartiality of the agency that comes under the Centre.

They have also pointed out that the Kharges are a powerful family and that the Corps of Detectives (CoD) under the Central Investigation Department (CID) which had been given the charge wouldn’t be able to probe Priyank adequately. However, back in April 2022, then BJP man and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister KS Eshwarappa had been named in a suicide note on WhtasApp by a Belagavi-based contractor Santosh Patil. Patil had died by suicide in an Udupi hotel. Congress, then in the Opposition, had demanded Eshwarappa’s resignation and arrest. However, the only concession they got out was Eshwarappa giving up his Cabinet berth.

About three months later, on July 20, 2022, the CID under the State government, which had been investigating the Patil’s suicide, submitted a B-form or closure report, absolving Eshwarappa of any wrongdoing in the case. Patil had alleged he and other contractors had completed 108 roads works in Hindalga town near Belagavi, pumping in their own money, by taking personal loans from friends, kin and financial institutions. Patil claimed that he had started work on oral assurances of Eshwarappa and co but received nothing for the services rendered.

Priyank’s ‘aide’ accused- One Sachin Monappa Panchal (26) died by lying on a railway track in Bidar on December 26, leaving behind a death note, blaming former Councilor and purportedly an aide of Priyank namely Raju Kapanur and seven others, all associated with the Congress. The contractor alleged Kapanur had refused to secure a contract for him despite him paying a bribe of Rs 15 lakh. Moreover, Panchal claimed Kapanur threatened to kill him if he didn’t pay up Rs 1 crore for the contract.

Notably, Kapanur is a former BJP man. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered at the local police station, accusing Kapanur and five others of paying people to kill BJP leaders including Kalaburagi MLA Basavaraj Mattimadu. The case was registered based on a claim in the suicide note. Priyank dismissed the BJP’s allegations that he was personally involved. He has also gotten the backing of Home Minister G Parameshwara, who said prima facie, it didn’t look like Priyank was involved.

Interestingly, in April, 2020, then CM Basavaraj Bommai and Home Minister Araga Jnanendra had expressed confidence Eshwarappa would come out clean before the probe had taken place. Kapanur on the other hand has also denied the charges against him, insisting that it was Panchal who had cheated him out of Rs 65 lakh.