CM to Congress: Don’t act like investigators

By NT Correspondent

Taking a dig at Congress leaders, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai asked leaders of the Opposition party not to act like investigators, prosecutor or judges while reacting to the mysterious death of a Belagavi-based civil contractor, Santosh Patil who had accused RDPR Minister K.S. Eshwarappa of demanding 40 per cent commission for the clearance of bills.

“First let the cops complete their investigation. I don’t know why Congress leaders are unnecessarily making comments even before they start the probe,’’ the CM told reporters in Hubballi on Friday.

Asked about Cong ress leaders staging an overnight dharna at Vidhana Soudha demanding the arrest of Eshwarappa, Bommai said the police must be allowed to do their job and wondered if Congress leaders were not aware that an accused is not arrested soon after the filing of the FIR.

Was the Home Minister in the Siddaramaiah Cabinet, K.J. George arrested by the CBI in connection with the suicide of Kodagu Deputy Superindent of Police M.K.Ganapati? “I did not know why Congress leaders are so anxious.

Let the truth come out from the probe”, he added.

Bommai also denied any setback for the BJP government headed by him because of the contractor episode and said Eshwarappa had spoken to him Thursday evening and told him that he had not done anything wrong and would come out clean after the investigation. 

He also said he was not aware of any conspiracy and asserted that the resignation of Eshwarappa had not tarnished the government’s image at all.