Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Minister K.S. Eshwarappa, on Friday, tendered his resignation to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai amid the row over the alleged suicide of contractor Santosh Patil. He met Bommai at his residence in Bengaluru and submitted the resignation letter.
Eshwarappa is facing charges of abetment to suicide in connection with the death of the contractor in Udupi.
Earlier in the day, Eshwarappa told his supporters and party workers in Shivamogga that he will prove his innocence and will become minister again. “An allegation is being made against me, should I come clear out of it or not?...for me to come clear as innocent, if I continue as minister when investigation is on, there will be a feeling that I may influence the investigation. So I am resigning as minister...I am telling you that I will come out innocent and will certainly become minister once again," he had said.
As a political furore erupted over the death, Eshwarappa had, on Thursday evening, announced his resignation as minister. The opposition, Congress, has been demanding his arrest and an impartial investigation into the death under the supervision of a sitting judge of the Karnataka High Court.
Bommai, meanwhile, said the resignation cannot be considered as a "setback" for the BJP government in the state, and clarified that Eshwarappa is voluntarily resigning. "He (Eshwarappa) has said that he is hundred per cent innocent. He has asked for an investigation to happen at the earliest and is confident of coming out clear from the allegations against him," the CM said.
Responding to a question on the opposition parties demanding Eshwarappa's arrest, the CM said police should be allowed to investigate the case first.
"Was K.J. George (minister during Congress rule who was blamed by a police officer before committing suicide) arrested by the Congress government? Neither the Karnataka police nor the CBI had arrested him, despite the NDA government at the Centre. Police will decide if they need to arrest or not," he said.