In what could spell trouble for Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Minister K S Eshwarappa, Belagavi-based contractor Santosh Patil was found dead in an Udupi hotel on Tuesday, weeks after accusing the senior BJP leader of corruption.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai ordered an “impartial” probe after the alleged suicide was discovered when the police tracked Patil’s phone to Udupi. He was missing since Monday.
In a purported suicide note in the form of a WhatsApp message, Patil blamed Eshwarappa for his death. He even appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bommai and former chief minister B S Yediyurappa to help his family.
Patil’s death can make life more difficult for the Bommai administration which is already fire-fighting a complaint by the Karnataka State Contractors’ Association last year that they are asked to pay a 40% cut in public works.
Eshwarappa said he had no role in Patil’s death. “There is no need for me to resign,” he said, responding to Congress’ demand for his ouster.
Patil’s body was found in the toilet of a room in the Shambhavi Hotel. While the exact cause of death is not known, the circumstances of suicide are investigated. In March, Patil had complained to Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh saying he was yet to be paid Rs 4 crore for road works in the Hindalga village, accusing Eshwarappa’s aides of demanding “commission” for the payment. Eshwarappa had denied the charge and RDPR additional chief secretary L K Atheeq said the department had not sanctioned any work to Patil that warranted releasing funds. “A thorough investigation into the death will be conducted.
The government will not interfere in the investigation,” Bommai said in Mangaluru.
“The authenticity of the letter and WhatsApp messages being circulated on social media will be looked into. The investigation will probe the background and reason for the death as well. The preliminary report will bring out the truth on why Patil took an extreme step to end his life,” Bommai said.
Patil’s family has demanded action against Eshwarappa. “It’s a murder,” his wife Jayashree said, whereas his brother Prashant Patil demanded the minister’s arrest.
Patil, a native of Badas village in Belagavi, was a contractor for the past five years. He identified himself as the national secretary of Hindu Vahini, a right-wing group. It is even said that Patil was a BJP worker, which local leaders deny. In fact, BJP Belagavi Rural Block President Dhananjay Jadhav claimed that Patil had “cheated” other contractors by promising them works on sub-lease.
Eshwarappa pointed out that he had sued Patil for defamation. “He may have committed suicide fearing inability to prove his allegations against me. He had received a court notice in the defamation case,” the minister said, urging Bommai to have Patil’s death probed properly.
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