Contractor’s suicide row: Karnataka minister Eshwarappa resigns | India News

NEW DELHI: Karnataka rural development and panchayat raj (RDPR) minister KS Eshwarappa tendered his resignation from the Basavaraja Bommai cabinet on Friday evening.
Eshwarappa had been under pressure after being embroiled in the suicide of a civil contractor.
The BJP leader however sounded confident that he will come out clean in the probe and rejoin the cabinet.
“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’m resigning as Minister…I’m telling you that I will come out innocent and will certainly become minister once again,” Eshwarappa said before resigning.
He also seemed to have the chief minister’s support.
“I spoke to him yesterday, he is of a clear stand and is voluntarily resigning. He 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,” chief minister Bommai told reporters in Bengaluru.
Eshwarappa had initially denied involvement in the contractor’s suicide and resolved not to resign. However his position became untenable after he was named in the FIR, along with a few others, for abetment of suicide and other charges.
Santhosh K Patil, 40, a contractor and BJP leader from Belagavi who made graft allegations against Eshwarappa, committed suicide by consuming poison on Tuesday. He had alleged that the Minister had been harassing him for commissions to clear his bills for projects he had implemented for the government.