Contractor found dead, days after saying BJP minister wanted 40 per cent commission

Santosh Patil’s body was found in a lodge in Udupi

A contractor who had accused the Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K S Eshwarappa of demanding 40 per cent commission for a work, was found dead in a lodge in Udupi on Tuesday. Police suspect he died by suicide.

The contractor, Santosh K Patil, who had claimed to be a BJP worker, reportedly sent some messages to a few media houses saying that he was committing suicide and alleged that Eshwarappa was responsible for his death. Opposition Congress demanded the arrest of Eshwarappa and his dismissal from the Cabinet, while Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the police will conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into Patil's death. Eshwarappa said he had no information about the suicide.

K S Eshwarappa, Karnataka's rural development and Panchayati Raj minister

The Congress demanded that the arrest be sacked and arrested. On March 30, Patil, who had claimed himself to be a BJP worker, alleged that he had executed a work in the RDPR department and wanted the payment but Eshwarappa demanded 40 per cent commission in the Rs 4 crore work.

The Minister had not only rubbished his charge but also filed a defamation suit against Patil. "I have no information. I had filed a case (defamation suit) against him for levelling the charges and the case was admitted. I am learning about the suicide from you (media)," Eshwarappa said on Tuesday.

Karnataka CM B Bommai. Pic/PTI

To a query that Patil had blamed him for his death, the minister said, "He could have written it but I have no information about it. I have no clue why he wrote my name in the death note and why he accused me. Only he can answer but he is no more."

CM Basavaraj Bommai said the police will conduct an investigation, ruling out any resignations. "One thing I want to make it clear that this case will be thoroughly investigated. There will not be any interference or direction from our side. Police will independently investigate the case," he said.

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