BJP’s Karnataka minister, KS Eshwarappa has had to step down from the post after the suicide of a contractor.
o Contractor Santosh Patil died by suicide on April 12 and Mr. Eshwarappa, who was suspected to have a role in the matter, has been cleared of charges.
o The clearance is based on the “lack of evidence”, police say.
Karnataka minister, BJP’s KS Eshwarappa, who had to step down from his post after a huge controversy after the suicide of a contractor, has been cleared by the police after conducting an investigation into the case. The former minister was involved in the police case filed over the suicide, with the contractor accusing him of being solely responsible for his death in his final message.
Santosh Patil had died by suicide on April 12 and Mr. Eshwarappa, who was suspected of abetment, was cleared owing to a “lack of evidence”, police say. A report regarding the suicide has now been filed at the court of Public Representatives
The minister, who has also been accused of corruption, was forced to step down after orders from BJP’s central leadership. Sources had shown that high command had given directions to the state that Mr. Eshwarappa must step down to maintain the party’s anti-corruption image.
Santhosh Patil, the contractor who made the corruption allegations against Mr. Eshwarappa in his last WhatsApp messages to friends and political leaders, had addressed them to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well.
The contractor had been given oral instruction by the minister, who had been handling the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department, for a Rs 4-crore project. He stated that he had completed it by borrowing money and selling his wife’s jewelry, but ended up receiving no payment even after 18 months. Mr. Eshwarappa, he alleged, demanded 40 percent of cut money to clear the Rs 4 crore bill.
The state’s contractor lobbies addressed that there is an existing culture of commission, which often goes well beyond 40 percent. Mr. Eshwarappa has denied any misconduct, claiming that if there’s guilt on his part in this matter, my family goddess will punish him. He also maintained that no work order was issued, so, there was clearly no question of cutting money.
“Patil demanded payment without procedure, how can payment be cleared without a work order?” he had said.
