Contractor death rocks state, FIR filed against Eshwarappa

NT Correspondents

Udupi / Bengaluru / Belagavi: With the suspected suicide of a contractor, Santosh Patil at an Udupi lodge drawing countrywide attention after he sent messages before his death claiming Karnataka Minister and BJP heavyweight K.S. Eshwarappa was responsible for his death, the state police swung into action and registered an FIR naming the RDPR Minister and two of his assistants as accused in the case.

A police official, on condition of anonymity, said that Udupi Town Police Station had registered a case against Eshwarappa, Basavaraj and Ramesh under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 306 (abetting suicide) in response to a complaint by Santosh’s brother Prashant Patil.

“We still haven’t moved the body and are waiting for forensic experts to take care of that. The deceased’s mobile phone is also yet to be examined,” he said. However late night reports said the body had been moved to Belagavi.

Santosh had accused the minister’s office of demanding a bribe of 40 per cent of the value of the projects.

Meanwhile, the minister at the centre of the controversy, Eshwarappa claimed that the Contractors’ association did not have any proof to back their claim on ‘commission raj’ in government departments.
“Why don’t you produce a single document proving that a certain minister demanded 40 per cent kickback from a certain contractor,” he asked. “If a minister has to resign every time an allegation is made, there will be no one left in the cabinet,” he added.

“It seems like he has killed himself after getting intimidated by the legal notice. Why was he scared even after approaching the Prime Minister and Amit Shah regarding this issue?” Eshwarappa wondered.

Santosh’s brother Prashant and wife Jayashree who addressed media persons on Tuesday, insisted that Eshwarappa was personally responsible for the contractor’s death.

“My brother had a good relationship with Eshwarappa. He visited Eshwarappa’s home (in Shivamogga). The minister is fabricating a story that he didn’t know Santosh,” Prashant said.

“He was under pressure because dues were not cleared for his works, which forced him to do this. He disclosed to me that Eshwarappa had asked him to undertake the works, but demanded a 40 per cent commission. He said he couldn’t repay loans if he paid the bribes. We had even pledged my gold jewellery to meet expenses for the work,” Jayashree said.