Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and Congress state unit chief D.K. Shivakumar were detained with other party leaders during a march in Bengaluru on Thursday.
The Congress leaders were marching to the residence of Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to demand the resignation of Minister K.S. Eshwarappa, who has been accused of abetment to suicide over the death of a contractor.
Contractor Santosh Patil had allegedly committed suicide earlier this week. He had accused Eshwarappa of threatening him and demanding bribes over clearance of dues.
The Congress had been demanding the resignation of Eshwarappa and registration of a case of murder against him.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted the Karnataka Police had arrested Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah and others. He declared the Congress would not relent “until Eshwarappa is arrested and sacked”.
He posed a number of questions to Bommai on Twitter. Surjewala asked why Bommai had not ordered the arrest of Eshwarappa and was continuing to defend the minister. He asked Bommai to clarify on why his government was “denying ₹1 CR compensation & maligning the memory of Santosh Patil”.
Patil funeral
Meanwhile, the mortal remains of Santosh Patil reached his residence in Belagavi on Thursday. He had been found dead in a lodge on Tuesday.
