NEW DELHI, April 15: The Karnataka rural development minister KS Eshwarappa who has announced his resignation from the cabinet after a case filed against him and his aides for allegedly abetting in suicide of a contractor, has said he was quitting only “to prevent embarrassment to the BJP” and reiterated he had no role in the death of the contractor.
The contractor, Santosh Patel was found hanging from a ceiling in a hotel in Udupi last week had left a suicidal note holding Eshwarappa and his aides responsible for his death. He had alleged that the minister and his aides demanded 40 per cent cut for Rs four crores worth of government contract works he had carried out before clearing the payments. After initially refusing to resign, the minister finally decided to quit on Friday to spare the ruling BJP from embarrassment.
Asked about his arrest, the Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the police would decide on his arrest. However, he pointed out that in case of former minister K.J. George, who faced charges in the death of police officer Ganapathy, both CBI and police did not arrest him.
Bommai was also critical of the Congress leaders demanding the minister’s resignation. “Congress leaders need not become the investigating officer, prosecutor and the judge in the Santosh Patil suicide case. Let them allow a free and thorough investigation.” On whether the whole development was a setback or embarrassment to the BJP and the government, the Chief Minister said, “There are no personal issues in the case. The question of a setback does not arise.” On allegations about a conspiracy in the case, he said the investigation would cover all the angles to unearth the truth.
The Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar asked the chief minister why was he accepting Eshwarappa’s resignation if he was convinced that the minister did no wrong in connection with the contractor’s suicide. “The chief minister said that Eshwarappa has not done anything wrong. If he didn’t do anything then why are you accepting his resignation?” asked Shivakumar.
The Congress has demanded the BJP minister’s arrest in connection with the death of contractor Santosh Patil, who had alleged corruption by the rural development minister.
Three days after he was named as an accused in a case registered over the contractor’s death.
(Manas Dasgupta)