Shivamogga : Karnataka Minister KS Eshwarappa, who is facing charges of abetment to suicide in connection with the death of Belagavi based civil works contractor Santosh Patil in Udupi, on Thursday announced that he will step down from his position.

The development comes soon after CM Bommai ruled out any action against the minister against whom police have booked a case for abetting the suicide of contractor Santosh Patil until a preliminary inquiry is completed.

At a news conference here, Eshwarappa said, “I have served as the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister in the Karnataka government. I have taken a decision today to resign from my ministerial position.” He further said he would tender his resignation letter to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday.

Earlier today, Bommai had said that Santosh Patil’s suicide case will be thoroughly investigated and the truth will come out and only based on the preliminary inquiry the government will decide on taking action against Eshwarappa.

There is no interference of (BJP) high command on this issue, they have only obtained information, they don’t have any role in it. As I have said first time itself, action will be taken based on the preliminary inquiry, let the preliminary inquiry happen,” Bommai said in response to a question regarding the BJP high command’s decision on Eshwarappa’s future as Minister.

Speaking to reporters, he said, “Post-mortem has happened only late last night, an investigation will begin now on. Based on the outcome of the investigation, we will decide. In my first day first reaction itself, I have said that without preliminary inquiry there will be no action (against Eshwarappa).”

Santosh Patil, a Belagavi-based contractor was found dead in an Udupi hotel on Tuesday, weeks after accusing Eshwarappa, who is also a senior BJP leader, of corruption. In a purported suicide note in the form of a WhatsApp message, Patil has blamed Eshwarappa for his death.