Contractor Santosh Patil death case : FIR against Minister Eshwarappa, 2 aides

Mangalore Today News Network

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.