The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday came down hard on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other Congress leaders for holding protests demanding the arrest of the then-state minister K S Eshwarappa over the Santhosh Patil suicide case in Bengaluru in April 2022.
A bench dismissed a petition filed by Siddaramaiah and others seeking to quash criminal prosecution registered for allegedly illegally marching towards the official residence of the then CM Basavaraj Bommai, demanding the resignation of then Minister KS Eshwarappa, ANI reported.
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CM Siddaramaiah has been asked to appear on March 6, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on March 7, Congress Karnataka in-charge RS Surjewala on March 11, and Heavy Industries Minister MB Patil on March 15.
“What happens if representatives don’t follow the rule and block the roads when city life is already torture? Representatives need to follow the rule first,” the HC observed, ANI reported.
Siddaramaiah’s advocacy petition has been rejected by the high court. Congress leaders, including the present CM, participated in a protest in April 2022, demanding KS Eshwarappa’s arrest in an alleged connection with the contractor Santosh Patil’s death case.
Eshwarappa had tendered his resignation following the row over his alleged role in the suicide of the contractor. He was the Deputy Chief Minister of the State in the previous BJP government.
Santosh Patil, a BJP leader and contractor, was found dead in a lodge in Udupi on April 12, 2022.
(With inputs from ANI)