Bengaluru: A seer from Karnataka has alleged that grants are only granted to mutts after the state government takes a 30% commission as a ‘cut.’ The allegation follows the Karnataka Contractors’ Association’s claim that the state government was demanding a 40% commission on all contracts.
“Everyone knows what’s happening. If a grant is given to a swamiji (mutt), it is given only after a 30% commission is taken as a cut,” said Lingayat seer Dingaleshwar Swamy.
The Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government in Karnataka is already under chaos after a contractor from Udupi killed himself after alleging he was harassed by minister KS Eshwarappa.
After initially refusing to resign from his post, KS Eshwarappa tendered his resignation on Friday, stating, “I decided to resign because I don’t want to put in an uncomfortable situation those who helped me rise to this position.”
Contractor Suicide Creating Unrest
A case was registered against Santosh Patil, a civilian contractor in Udupi, died as a result of Eshwarappa’s abetment of suicide. Eshwarappa was listed as the case’s first defendant.
The FIR was filed in response to a complaint filed by Prashanth Patil, the brother of contractor Santosh Patil, who accused Eshwarappa of bribery.
Santosh was discovered dead at an Udupi lodge on Tuesday, April 12, in what appears to be a suicide. Eshwarappa and his employees Ramesh and Basavaraj were identified as defendants in Prashanth’s complaint.
Before his death, Patil allegedly sent a WhatsApp message to his friends stating his intention to take his life, and blaming Eshwarappa for the extreme step. The police are verifying the authenticity of the suicide note through forensics.
Eshwarappa Responsible For Contractors Death
“Eshwarappa is responsible for my death. He has to be punished. I’ve suppressed all my desires and [am] doing this. I request PM, CM and Yediyurappa to take care of my family,” Patil purportedly wrote in the WhatsApp message.
n the complaint, the victim’s brother, Prashanth Patil, said that in the year 2020-21, residents of Hindalga village had called on Eshwarappa in the state capital Bengaluru and requested him to lay roads, construct storm water drains and pavement in the hamlet.
He further stated that Eshwarappa gave the nod to start work without worrying about the budget, following which Santosh Patil was awarded the contract. The complainant contended that his brother had undertaken work worth Rs 4 crore in the village.
A few weeks ago, Patil had written a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which he alleged that Eshwarappa had not cleared outstanding bills. He accused the BJP leader of lies, corruption and irregularities, and urged PM Modi to direct Eshwarappa to settle his bills.
Eshwarappa initially denied the allegations and retaliated by filing a defamation case against Patil for levelling ‘baseless’ charges.
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