Contractor death case: Eshwarappa resigns, now what?

A day after Karnataka minister KS Eshwarappa announced his decision to resign, the Congress accused Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai of trying to protect the minister. Congress also demanded his arrest and that he should be booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Eshwarappa has been booked for allegedly abetting the suicide of contractor Santosh K Patil. Patil last month complained to Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh and also BJP central leaders stating that he was yet to be paid Rs 4 crore for road works undertaken in Hindalga village and had accused Eshwarappa's aides of demanding 40 per cent commission for the release of the payment.