The Vidhana Soudha police on Thursday launched an investigation into an allegedly forged Rural Development Panchayat Raj Karnataka (RDPR) letter in connection with the death of Santosh Patil, a contractor from Hindalga in Belagavi.
On April 12, Patil had killed himself and left behind a WhatsApp message blaming former Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K.S. Eshwarappa. He had alleged that he had begun road work in Hindalga based on verbal assurances from the Minister and was under pressure to give commissions even though bill payments were pending.
The police have sought the help of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team to ascertain notes written in green ink stating that order copies are to be issued on 5/3/2022. At the end, it stated “ordered for approval.” The police say it was based on this letter, which was accessed by a section of the media, that road work on Hindalga village was taken up by Patil.
