Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa's political secretary N.R. Santhosh allegedly attempted suicide on Friday evening and is now undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bengaluru.
Santhosh, who is also the grand-nephew of the chief minister, was appointed as the political secretary in May this year. Santhosh had played a key role in helping the BJP dislodge the H.D. Kumaraswamy government in July 2019 and come to power. Santhosh was also nursing political ambitions and was planning to contest in the next Assembly polls.
He allegedly consumed sleeping pills at Yediyurappa's Dollar's Colony residence around 7.30pm on Friday and was immediately rushed to M.S. Ramaiah hospital by his family members, according to sources.
While Santhosh is said to be out of danger, the Sadashivanagar police have registered a case of attempt to commit suicide (IPC section 309).
"He has been upset over some political issue for some time now, " said Jahnavi, wife of Santhosh.
The chief minister's son and state BJP vice-president B.Y. Vijayendra expressed shock over the incident and said, "No one ever mentioned anything about his resigning from the post. I am shocked to hear about Santhosh," Vijayendra told reporters when asked if Santhosh was being forced to resign.
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According to doctors treating Santhosh, he is stable and will be shifted from the ICU to the ward soon.
Meanwhile, KPCC chief D.K. Shivakumar has claimed that a "leaked video" that has now reached the hands of BJP high command is the reason for Santhosh allegedly attempting suicide.
"This appears to be a case of blackmail. It needs to be thoroughly probed. It concerns a leaked video, which has reached the BJP central leaders," said Shivakumar.
"I have heard that there is a video of Santhosh, and a BJP MLC and a minister have been blackmailing him. It is also possible they also are blackmailing the chief minister. The video is in the hands of the high command now, which might be the trigger for the attempted suicide. A high-level inquiry will reveal the truth. A probe by the state government will be of no use," said Shivakumar.
In August 2017, Santhosh was arrested on charges of kidnapping Vinay N.S., a close aide of senior BJP leader minister K.S. Eshwarappa, who is now the RDPR minister. Santhosh received bail in the case.
"Shivakumar is the head of a political party and should not be making such irresponsible statements. Let him name the MLC and the minister. He is playing low-level politics," said Eshwarappa.
