Udupi, April 13, 2022: State Minister for Panchayatraj and Rural Development K S Eshwarappa has been named as the first accused in the FIR filed in the case of alleged suicide of contractor Santosh K Patil. It may be recalled here that Santosh was found dead at a lodge near the KSRTC bus stand in Udupi on Tuesday. He had reportedly committed suicide and had left behind a death note blaming Eshwarappa for his death.
It has been alleged that the minister had failed to clear the bill worth Rs 4 crore with regard to the road works done by Santosh Patil in Hindalagaa on the instructions of the former.
Earlier, Prashanth Patil, the brother of the decased who arrived on Tuesday filed a complaint against Eshwarappa, Ramesh and Basavaraj, Personal Assistant to the minister.
The complaint stated that Santosh had met the minister several times and that the minister’s close aides namely Ramesh and Basavaraj were demanding 40% commission.
On Tuesday after the arrival of the family members, the FSL team entered the room where Santosh was found dead for investigation purposes. Even canine squad and finger print experts were pressed into service.