UDUPI/BENGALURU: A civil contractor who had levelled bribery allegations against Karnataka minister for rural development and panchayat raj K S Eshwarappa was found dead in a private lodge in the coastal town of Udupi on Tuesday morning. While police are investigating the exact cause of death, preliminary investigation suggests that the 40-year-old killed himself.
Santhosh Patil, from Belagavi, had also purportedly sent out WhatsApp messages to mediapersons, police and close friends claiming that he was committing suicide and that Eshwarappa was responsible for his death and should be punished for it.
Patil, a BJP worker and member of the Hindu Yuva Vahini, had written to PM Narendra Modi alleging that Eshwarappa had demanded a 40% commission from him for clearing his bill for road work completed in his village, Padasa, in Belagavi district. The bill was for Rs 4 crore.
In WhatsApp messages to mediapersons, police and close friends claiming that he was ending his life, civil contractor Patil wrote: “I’ve made this decision after relegating all my dreams to a corner. My wife and child should be supported by the Prime Minister, the CM, and our Lingayat leader, BS Yediyurappa. My million thanks to media friends.”
He also said his two friends had nothing to do with his death. “I have brought them for a tour and they are unaware of my intentions,” he texted.
Eshwarappa said he had nothing to do with the man’s death. “I don’t know who Santhosh Patil is. I had filed a defamation case against him when he made baseless allegations against me. We have to wait for the court’s verdict in this case,” he said.
Based on Santhosh’s bribery allegations, Union rural development and panchayat raj minister Giriraj Singh had sought a clarification from Eshwarappa. Later, Eshwarappa issued a clarification saying neither a sanction order nor administrative approval was given for any of the works mentioned by Patil. “The road works said to be undertaken by applicant Patil have not been implemented by the government. Hence raising any funds for the said project doesn’t arise,” he had said.
Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai said the contractor’s death would be “probed thoroughly” and that the government has “asked police to probe the matter systematically with respect to forensic science, spot inspection, inquiry, and everything in accordance with the law.” He added: “There will no interference or direction from our side.” Meanwhile, Santhosh Patil’s brother Prashanth said, “The state government has killed my brother.”
Santhosh Patil, from Belagavi, had also purportedly sent out WhatsApp messages to mediapersons, police and close friends claiming that he was committing suicide and that Eshwarappa was responsible for his death and should be punished for it.
Patil, a BJP worker and member of the Hindu Yuva Vahini, had written to PM Narendra Modi alleging that Eshwarappa had demanded a 40% commission from him for clearing his bill for road work completed in his village, Padasa, in Belagavi district. The bill was for Rs 4 crore.
In WhatsApp messages to mediapersons, police and close friends claiming that he was ending his life, civil contractor Patil wrote: “I’ve made this decision after relegating all my dreams to a corner. My wife and child should be supported by the Prime Minister, the CM, and our Lingayat leader, BS Yediyurappa. My million thanks to media friends.”
He also said his two friends had nothing to do with his death. “I have brought them for a tour and they are unaware of my intentions,” he texted.
Eshwarappa said he had nothing to do with the man’s death. “I don’t know who Santhosh Patil is. I had filed a defamation case against him when he made baseless allegations against me. We have to wait for the court’s verdict in this case,” he said.
Based on Santhosh’s bribery allegations, Union rural development and panchayat raj minister Giriraj Singh had sought a clarification from Eshwarappa. Later, Eshwarappa issued a clarification saying neither a sanction order nor administrative approval was given for any of the works mentioned by Patil. “The road works said to be undertaken by applicant Patil have not been implemented by the government. Hence raising any funds for the said project doesn’t arise,” he had said.
Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai said the contractor’s death would be “probed thoroughly” and that the government has “asked police to probe the matter systematically with respect to forensic science, spot inspection, inquiry, and everything in accordance with the law.” He added: “There will no interference or direction from our side.” Meanwhile, Santhosh Patil’s brother Prashanth said, “The state government has killed my brother.”