Santosh Patil death: Eshwarappa rejects resigning

"There is no question of me resigning. I will not succumb to the opposition demand for my resignation," Eshwarappa told reporters at a press conference here.

Giving reason for it, Eshwarappa said, "There is a conspiracy to malign my name. A death note allegedly has been found, it is said. But there is no signature on it and it was not found with the body."

"Can a Whatsapp message be treated as a death note. It can be typed by anybody," he said referring to the purported message by Patil.

That is why I have informed my Chief Minister to initiate an inquiry. The CM said that he will definitely back the inquiry," he said.

Eshwarappa said the government had not given any contract to Patil to carry out any projects. "No work order has been issued to him. Therefore, there is no question of corruption (taking 40 percent commission)."

"This is not a private contract where you pay a lump sum and get the work done. These are government projects and there are set rules and regulations. There is approval of the contract. Then the work order has to be passed ... so and so forth. When Patil has not been awarded any contract, where is the question of corruption (accepting 40 per cent commission)?" he asked.

Eshwarappa said an impartial investigation would throw light on people who egged Patil to conspire against him.

Eshwarappa said he did not know who Patil was. It is learnt that Patil was national Secretary of the Hindu Yuva Vahini.

He was found dead in a lodge in Udupi on Tuesday with police suspecting it to be a case of suicide.

Patil had earlier alleged that Eshwarappa had demanded a 40 percent commission on the value of the contract work executed by him.

In response, Eshwarappa had dismissed the claims and filed a defamation suit against Patil.

In a purported message on social media, Patil allegedly held the Minister responsible for his death.

Meanwhile, the Congress is holding protests across the state demanding Eshwarappa's arrest and resignation as Minister.

Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Siddaramaiah said Patil was a BJP worker and Eshwarappa was to blame for his death.

"This comes under the ingredients under Section 300 of IPC warranting punishment under Section 302 (murder) of IPC," he told reporters.

Siddaramaiah also demanded immediate arrest of Eshwarappa and his dismissal from the Cabinet. A delegation of the Congress led by DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah submitted a letter demanding sacking of Eshwarappa.

Meanwhile, BJP National General Secretary and party's Karnataka incharge Arun Singh told reporters in Belagavi that a decision will be taken soon with regards to the continuation of Eshwarappa as minister.

(With UNI inputs)