KALABURAGI, TUMAKURU: A day after he was blamed by a BJP worker for his suicide, Higher Education Minister Sharanaprakash R Patil has denied any links with the deceased Shivakumar.
Speaking to Public TV, the minister said, “I don’t even know the person who ended his life. The BJP is unnecessarily dragging my name into the issue. Apparently, Shivakumar died due to the burden of loans, but I don’t even know him”.
Regarding his name being mentioned in audio clips recorded by the deceased BJP worker naming him, Sharanaprakash Patil said he will taken legal recourse. “As a minister, I will not react to the issue of the audio clips”, he added.
Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara, speaking to media persons in Tumakuru, said the government has ordered a CID probe into the suicide of the BJP worker. “We have ordered a CID probe to bring out the truth. The claims that the minister is involved have to be verified, which the CID will do, and the truth will come out. Based on the investigation report, we will decide the future course of action”, he said.
In a curious development in the case, Mallamma, the wife of Shivakumar has lodged a complaint at the Sulepeth police station in Chincholi taluk stating that he committed suicide as he had incurred loans of Rs 12 lakh and was worried about it. She also stated that they had lost their green moong dal crop due to lack of rain, which had upset Shivakumar. Following this, the police have registered a case of unnatural death.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders are demanding a CID investigation into the incident after the minister was named in audio clips. They are also planning to stage a protest as the FIR does not mention the minister’s name or the alleged harassment from Congress workers.
The BJP leaders are meeting at the residence of former MLA Rajkumar Patil Telkur in Sedam and are expected to announce a bandh in the town tomorrow.