Never saw his face before, no question of resigning: Eshwarappa on Santosh Patil suicide case
Shivamogga(PTI): Amid mounting opposition pressure for his resignation over the death of a civil contractor, senior Karnataka Minister K S Eshwarappa on Wednesday ruled out stepping down from his post, as he wondered if a Whatsapp message can be treated as a "death note."
He demanded for a probe into the "conspiracy" behind Santosh K Patil's death.
Eshwarappa's statement on Wednesday came in the wake of the BJP leader being booked by the police in Udupi for abetment of suicide, following the death of Patil, who had accused the minister of corruption.
The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister also wondered how a Whatsapp message can be treated as a "death note" and said it can be typed by anybody, referring to the purported message by Patil.
No signed or written "death note" was found near Patil's body, he said.
"The question of my resignation does not arise at all. I will not bow to the opposition demand for my resignation," Eshwarappa said in a press conference at his home town.
The 37-year-old contractor had earlier alleged that Eshwarappa demanded 40 per cent commission for release of funds for the civil works undertaken by him at Hindalga village in Belagavi district ahead of a festival.
The contractor allegedly committed suicide in a lodge in Udupi on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday by consuming some poisonous substance, according to police.
A case of abetting suicide has been registered by the Udupi police against Eshwarappa and his aides Basavaraj, Ramesh and others.
Reiterating that he did not know Patil, the Minister even said he was not "even related" to the BJP.
"Today only I spoke to the Belagavi district rural president. He told me he (Santosh Patil) has no relation with the BJP. I have never seen his face before. Some people are creating relationships. For whom are they creating this connection? This is the conspiracy. It should be probed," Eshwarappa said.
The minister also insisted upon producing documentary evidence to show that he was involved in the case.
"The conspiracy behind the death should be probed. Did he die on his own or for some other reason must be investigated," Eshwarappa said.
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Youtuber, friends arrested for performing stunts on moving car in Gurugram
Gurugram, Jan 15 (PTI): A Youtuber and his three friends were arrested here on Tuesday for allegedly performing dangerous stunts on moving cars, a video of which was shared widely on social media, police said.
The four were later let off on bail after they joined the investigation.
The video, that was circulated on January 12, showed Krishna Yadav, who runs the YouTube channel Babajaanivlogs, showcasing stunts in an underpass near the Rapid Metro here and his friends recording the act from another car, a police official said.
Police quickly swung into action and after identifying the cars arrested all four accused. The two cars were also seized.
"The accused have made confessions and they were let off on bail after they joined the investigation. The two cars have been seized and further probe into the matter is underway," said Inspector Rajesh Kumar, the SHO of DLF phase 1 police station.
कार पर बैठकर बनाई रील, अब पहुंच गए जेल.#गुरुग्राम में पुलिस ने स्टंटबाजी करने वाले गैंग को पकड़ा लिया..#रैपिड मेट्रो स्टेशन के पास अंडरपास में बनाई थी वीडियो..#Gurugram #Police #Stunt pic.twitter.com/wcyJxhZfJX
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