Karnataka: FIR Against 36 Congress Leaders For Unlawful Assembly At CM Basavaraj Bommai's Residence

The Congress leaders were booked under sections 341,143 IPC & 103 KP Act

New Delhi: Days after Karnataka Congress leaders took out a rally towards Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's residence demanding to expel minister KS Eshwarappa over contractor Santosh Patil's death, 36 Congress leaders including former CM Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief DK Shivakumar, Indian National Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala were booked on Monday for an unlawful assembly at CM Bommai's residence on Thursday (April 14).

The Congress leaders were booked under sections 341,143 IPC & 103 KP Act. Congress leaders on Thursday were detained by the police during their rally towards the CM's residence. They have later staged a sit-in at Vidhana Soudha demanding the minister's resignation. 

After coming under the scanner, Eshwarappa resigned from the Minister of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj role in the cabinet on Friday. A day after his expulsion, the Congress in the state continued protests in at least 10 districts demanding Eshwarappa's arrest over the contractor's death, said a Times of India report.

The party functionaries held protests in Ramnagara, Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamaglur, Vijayapura, Bidar, Chikkaballapura and other districts. Former Minister HK Patil led the protests In Hospete and the functionaries were reportedly detained when they tried to protest.

Siddaramiah accused BJP of preventing the expelled minister from being arrested.

Santosh Patil, the contractor who accused Eshwarappa of corruption and fraud died by suicide on Tuesday in Udupi. The deceased Santhosh had earlier written letters to the top central BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 40 per cent commission demand by Minister Eshwarappa.