BENGALURU: Former RDPR Minister K S Eshwarappa has got a clean chit from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the contractor Santosh Patil suicide case. Eshwarappa had to resign in the face of corruption allegations in the department, which allegedly drove Patil to suicide.
Reacting to the development, state Congress chief D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said the BJP government is covering up the bribery case of their leaders and the ‘B report’ in the Eshwarappa issue is a trick to save the dignity of the government.
Speaking to mediapersons, Shivakumar said, “During the investigation in the Santosh Patil suicide case, then Chief Minister Yediyurappa and Home Minister had already given a certificate that he will be acquitted. If the government says they are innocent before the investigation, there will be pressure on the investigators. The B report has been submitted today to save the dignity of the government. Everyone knows the facts of this case.”
“Ministers Govinda Karajol, Murugesh Nirani and even Ramesh Jarakiholi had stated that Santosh Patil had completed the work. He wrote a letter to the Prime Minister and party leaders and stated his problem. Santosh Patil’s wife has also written a letter to the Governor. However, the government has not been able to provide justice to them,” he added.
The Congress leader said Santosh Patil was a BJP activist and the BJP government should be “ashamed” of covering up this case. “The people of the state know that this is a 40 per cent commission government. There are reports that the rates are fixed for posts in government departments. Everyone knows that the president of the Contractors Association, Kempanna, wrote a letter to the Prime Minister,” said Shivakumar.
He said people will not forgive the “40 per cent commission government”. The Congress leader further said if a BJP worker does not get justice under a BJP government, then how the common people will get the same.
Santosh Patil, a BJP leader and contractor, was found dead in a lodge in Udupi on April 12. Patil had accused the then Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K S Eshwarappa of corruption. Following the row over his alleged role in the suicide of Patil, Eshwarappa tendered his resignation. (ANI)