The Karnataka High Court has slammed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for protest demanding arrest of then state minister K S Eshwarappa over suicide case of the Santhosh Patil.
A fine of ₹10,000 was imposed on the CM and his colleagues M B Patil (Minister of Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development) and Ramalinga Reddy (Transport Minister).
The fine has also been put on senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, summoning them before the people’s representatives’ court.
As per the media report, summon letters werte been issued to CM Siddaramaiah on March 6, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on March 7, Congress Karnataka in-charge R S Surjewala on March 11 and M B Patil on March 15.
A demonstration was staged by the Congress leaders inside the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.
The protest demandarrest of ed Eshwarappa’s immediate arrest after the former minister was linked to the contractor, Santhosh Patil’s death.
The Congress also marched illegally towards the residence of former CM Basavaraj Bommai seeking Eshwarappa’s resignation from his post.
Karnataka High Court single judge bench which consisted of Justice Krishna Dixit, dismissed a petition filed by CM Siddaramaiah and others seeking to quash the criminal case lodged against them.
In 2022, Civil works contractor Patil was found dead in a lodge in Udupi . He had accused Eshwarappa of corruption, alleging that he demands 40 per cent commission on each contract.
It is pertinent to note that Eshwarappa was in charge of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) department and had resigned after the row over his alleged involvement in the contractor’s death.