Karnataka Contractor's Death: Kin Refuse To Accept His Body Till Arrest Of Minister Eshwarappa

Karnataka Contractor's Death: The family of civil contractor Santhosh K Patil refused to accept his mortal remains until the arrest of the three accused mentioned in the FIR.

New Delhi: The family members of civil contractor Santhosh K Patil, who allegedly died by suicide at a lodge in Udupi after accusing Karnataka minister KS Eshwarappa of demanding a bribe, have refused to accept his body and demanded immediate arrest of the accused.

Following a complaint by Santhosh Patil's brother Prashanth, a case was registered against Karnataka Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj KS Eshwarappa, PTI reported. The FIR names Eshwarappa as the first accused in the abetment to suicide case.

READ | Karnataka Minister KS Eshwarappa Named In Police Case Over Contractor's Suicide

However, the family of Patil refused to accept his mortal remains until the arrest of the three accused mentioned in the FIR. The other accused in the case are Eshwarappa's aides Ramesh and Basavaraj.

"We will not allow shifting of the body. We have already informed our stand to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. We are fighting for justice and the decision has been taken for the peace of Santhosh's soul," Prashanth told reporters.

Santhosh Patil, a contractor and BJP activist from Belagavi district of Karnataka, had alleged that Eshwarappa demanded 40 per cent commission for release of funds for the civil works undertaken by him at Hindalga village.

The 37-year-old contractor ended his lufe at a lodge in Udupi on Tuesday by consuming some poisonous substance, according to police.

PTI reported that he had earlier sent letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister for Panchayat Raj Giriraj Singh informing them of Eshwarappa.

Meanwhile, Eshwarappa reiterated on Wednesday that he won't resign as minister over the incident and demanded a probe into the "conspiracy" behind Santosh Patil's death.

Eshwarappa said no signed or written "death note" was found near Patil's body. He also wondered how a Whatsapp message could be treated as a "death note" and said it ccould be typed by anybody.

"The question of my resignation does not arise at all. I will not bow to the opposition demand for my resignation," Eshwarappa said at a press conference.

(With PTI inputs)