Never met contractor who killed self, says Eshwarappa as heat rises on graft allegations

Karnataka Minister Eshwarappa on Wednesday, April 13, said that he had never seen or met Santosh Patil, the contractor who killed himself after accusing the minister of indulging in corruption.

Karnataka Minister Eshwarappa on Wednesday, April 13, said that he had never seen or met Santosh Patil, the contractor who killed himself after accusing the minister of indulging in corruption."I have never seen or met this person. The letter that was written to the Centre was forwarded to our department and our Principal Secretary Atiq Ahmed had replied to it. There is nothing on record to show that civil works were allocated to them [Patil]. There is no question of payment. Our department informed the Centre as well," he said.

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"I have already urged the Chief minister and home minister to order a fair and impartial probe into the corruption allegations," Eshwarappa said.

Allegations of corruption against Eshwarappa gained steam after a contractor, Santosh Patil, was found dead in a lodge. Prima facie, it seems Patil killed himself. Before his death, Patil allegedly sent a WhatsApp message to his friends stating his intention to take his life and blaming Eshwarappa for the extreme step.

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“Eshwarappa is responsible for my death. He has to be punished. I've suppressed all my desires and [am] doing this. I request PM, CM and Yediyurappa to take care of my family,” Patil purportedly wrote in the WhatsApp message.