Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Apr 12: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday, April 3 said that further course of action will be taken after the preliminary police report on the death of Santhosh K Patil.
Santhosh K Patil, who was a building contractor by profession, killed himself in room no 207 of Shambhavi Lodge near KSRTC bus stand in Udupi.
Addressing a press meet at a private hotel here Bommai said, " As per primary information I have received that the mortal remains of Santhosh Patil was found in a lodge at Udupi. The Superintendent of Police himself rushed to the spot. The primary investigation is in process. Officials of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) from Mangaluru also went to the spot. Proper action will be taken on the basis of a preliminary report. The incident will be probed in detail impartially. There will not be any kind of interference from our side. Police will hold the probe completely independently," he added.
The credibility of the death note too will be probed. On the basis of the probe, further course of action will be taken, CM said.
Answering the question that the opposition has demanded that Eshwarappa should be subjected to inquiry and the chief minister should tender resignation for the incident, Bommai said, "An official had committed suicide even during their tenure. Did Siddaramaiah tender resignation," he questioned. We are holding a detailed probe as we know the background of the case," he added.
"Eshwarappa is our cabinet minister. I can personally talk to him but before that, I have directed the police officers to hold a detailed probe including an FSL report and spot inspection. The probe will be done in detail as per the law," he said.
On the question of whether the government had taken any action on the allegation made by deceased Santhosh, Bommai said Eshwarappa has denied these allegations. "Eshwarappa also informed me that he had filed a defamation case against him on the allegations. He also filed a case against a channel after Santhosh made allegations in a press meet. He did not submit any documents to the government on the allegations made. All this will be considered during the probe. Only through a probe, we can come to know why he has taken such an extreme step," CM said.
On rising communal divide in the state because of various organizations, he said, " From the past few months, several untoward incidents have taken place, especially in the coastal belt, several murders have taken place. Even police had to open fire when there was an untoward incident reported during the funeral procession of slain Harsha. Any organisation or whoever takes the law into hands will face stringent action. As assured we have taken action in the incidents reported in Dharwad, Shivamogga, JJ Nagar and even in the Kolar. Society should note that provocation is from both sides. The duty of the government is to protect the law and order in situations like this and peace. The government will do that even in the future," he said.
He also questioned who created the Hijab controversy. "Then why do they (opposition) remain silent? As they raise selective issues, it creates provocation. The government will take unbiased action to protect the law and order, peace, and harmony in society," he reiterated.
"We will contest the next elections on the basis of development programmes in the state by our government," he said, thwarting the questions of polarisation for votes.