BJP claims suicide note has Priyank Kharge's name

Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday rejected allegations against rural development and panchayat raj minister Priyank Kharge in the alleged suicide case of 26-year-old civil contractor and said that there were no evidence that linked the minister to the case.

- HT Correspondent

BENGALURU:

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Siddaramaiah stated, "His (Priyank Kharge's) name is not there. He has no role in it. There is no evidence against him. Still, he is being asked to resign. Why should he resign?" He affirmed that the government would await the Crime Investigation Department's (CID) findings before making any decisions.

The case revolves around the suicide of 26-year-old contractor in Bidar on December 26. The police had recovered a seven-page suicide note from his possession. In the letter, he allegedly accused Raju Kapanur, reportedly a close associate of Kharge, of threatening to kill him and demanding ₹1 crore for awarding a contract. He also alleged that he was cheated by seven others who took ₹15 lakh as a bribe but failed to fulfil their promises.

After the note was revealed, the BJP mounted pressure on the Congress-led government, demanding Kharge's resignation and accusing the party of shielding its leaders. The opposition has also raised concerns over Kapanur's proximity to Kharge, citing it as grounds for suspicion.

The BJP leaders have also called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, asserting that they have no confidence in the CID investigation.

BJP leaders have drawn comparisons between this case and that of former BJP minister KS Eshwarappa, who resigned after a contractor's suicide note explicitly named him in a bribery allegation. Siddaramaiah, however, refuted the analogy. "Is Priyank Kharge's name mentioned in the suicide note? His name is not mentioned anywhere. The minister has said that he is ready for any inquiry," he told reporters.