The suicide of Karnataka contractor Santhosh Patil has heated up the politics in Southern state. Amid opposition’s demand that top minister KS Eshwarappa should resign, the deceased contractor’s wife has said that Patil was a fan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and even campaigned for the saffron party in Karnataka and UP.
Jayashree Patil, Santhosh’s wife, told The Hindu: “He was a big fan of Mr. Modi. He was very confident that Mr. Modi would help him. But he was disappointed to find that the PM’s office forgot about the letter after forwarding it to the State Government.”
“My husband campaigned for the BJP not only in Karnataka, but in Uttar Pradesh too. He had served as the national secretary of the Hindu Yuva Vahini. He worked for the party without expecting anything in return.”
Eshwarappa and his aides are booked for abetment of suicide. In Udupi, the case was registered on the complaint of Patil’s brother Prashanth.
Contractor Santosh Patil had accused Eshwarappa of corruption. On Tuesday, Santosh was found dead in a lodge in Udipi. Santosh’s brother has blamed the minister for his demise.
Prashant Patil said, “Eshwarappa is responsible for my brother’s death. He sought a bribe or commission [from contractor Santhosh Patil]. He then filed a defamation case. Patil had received threats too.”
Before committing suicide, Santosh Patil had sent a WhatsApp message to his friends stating his intention to take his life and blaming Eshwarappa for the extreme step.
According to police, Santosh told his wife he was going on a picnic with his friends. He left Belgaum on April 11. Following this, he went missing.
On Tuesday, his body was found in Udupi. His two friends were in the same building but in another room.
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