Death of contractor: Karnataka Minister and aides booked for abetment to suicide

Contractor’s brother has alleged that when approached for payment of bills, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K.S. Eshwarappa’s aides Basavaraj and Ramesh demanded commission of 40% from Santosh Patil

The Udupi Town police booked Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K.S. Eshwarappa, his two aides Basavaraj and Ramesh, and others for abatement to suicide (Section 306 of Indian Penal Code) of Santosh K. Patil.

The 36-year-old contractor from Hindalga in Belagavi district was found dead in a room of Shambhavi Lodge in Udupi on April 12.

The case was booked following a complaint by the contractor’s brother Prashant Goudappa Patil who came to Udupi on April 12 night along with other members of the family of the deceased.

In the complaint, Prashant said Hindalga gram panchayat members and a religious leader met Mr. Eshwarappa in Bengaluru in connection with pending work on road, sewage and other development projects that were taken up for the impending annual fair of Laxmidevi temple in 2020-21. Mr. Eshwarappa asked the gram panchayat members to go ahead with the projects and assured grant of money for the same.

Santosh Patil and other contractors went ahead with the work, which were worth more than ₹4 crore, by investing their own money.

Later, when approached for payment of their bills, Mr. Eshwarappa’s aides Basavaraj and Ramesh allegedly demanded commission of 40%.

Santosh Patil filed a complaint through the contractors’ association and also gave a statement to mediapersons about the alleged demand of commission by Mr. Eshwarappa and his aides.