Santosh Patil suicide case: Court accepts B-report, offers respite to ex-minister Eshwarappa

Former Minister K.S. Eshwarappa has been granted a substantial reprieve in the case involving the suicide of contractor Santosh Patil. The Special Court of People’s Representatives has accepted the B-Report presented by the Udupi Police, marking a significant development in the proceedings.

The unfortunate incident unfolded in 2022 when Santosh Patil, a contractor, took his own life in a lodge in Udupi. Patil’s death note alleged harassment by Minister KS Eshwarappa, who subsequently resigned from his position as the Minister of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj.

Patil had accused Eshwarappa of demanding a 40% commission for approving a bill related to a particular project. The police had recorded statements from both Eshwarappa and Santosh Patil’s family during their investigation. However, the B-Report submitted to the court stated that there was insufficient evidence to establish a link between the alleged harassment and the suicide.

Challenging this conclusion, Santosh Patil’s family filed an application in court, claiming that the police had succumbed to political influence while submitting the B-Report. Nonetheless, following a thorough examination of the arguments presented thus far, the court has delivered a significant relief to Eshwarappa by accepting the B-Report provided by the investigating authorities.