Karnataka Minister Eshwarappa, Accused In Suicide Of Contractor, Tenders Resignation To CM Bommai

Eshwarappa, against whom Police have booked a case, told his supporters that he will come out clear from the allegations made against him and certainly become a minister once again.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Minister K S Eshwarappa on Friday tendered his resignation to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai at his residence amid the ongoing controversy over his alleged involvement in abetting the suicide of contractor Santosh Patil.

Soon after tendering his resignation, Eshwarappa indirectly tried to put the onus on Karnataka BJP leadership as he told reporters that he was asking his seniors to accept his resignation for the last 4 days.

"For last 4 days, I have been asking my seniors to accept my resignation, today they accepted it. There is a conspiracy behind all this," he told reporters.

Before arriving at the CM's house, Eshwarappa, against whom Police have booked a case, told his supporters that he will come out clear from the allegations made against him and certainly become a minister once again.

"An allegation is being made against me, should I come clear out of it or not?...for me to come clear as innocent, if I continue as Minister when an investigation is on, there will be a feeling that I may influence the investigation. So I'm resigning as Minister...I'm telling you that I will come out innocent and will certainly become Minister once again," Eshwarappa said earlier in the day.

After days-long political furore, Eshwarappa had on Thursday evening announced his resignation as Minister.

While speaking to reporters after addressing party workers, Eshwarappa told reporters that it was very clear that this is an "agni pareeksha" (trial by fire) and that several people have conspired against him.

Santosh Patil, a Belagavi-based contractor, was found dead at a hotel in Udupi on Tuesday, weeks after accusing Eshwarappa, who is also a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, of corruption.

Patil had blamed Eshwarappa for his death in a purported suicide note in the form of a WhatsApp message.