Udupi

Brother of deceased contractor Santosh Patil on Wednesday demanded the arrest of Karnataka Minister KS Eshwarappa and his close aides Ramesh and Basawaraj.

He has refused to take the deceased's mortal remains until action is taken against the accused.

"Minister KS Eshwarappa, Basawaraj and Ramesh (Eshwarappa's close aides) must be arrested. We want justice," Prashant Patil, brother of the deceased said.

He also demanded that everybody who has been named in the FIR must be arrested. "We will not take the body of my brother till the arrests are made by the police," he said.

Earlier Wednesday, a Congress delegation led by state party chief DK Shivakumar, and former chief minister Siddaramaiah met the Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, demanding the expulsion of Eshwarappa from the state cabinet as well as his arrest over contractor Santosh Patil's death.

The Congress leaders demanded from the Governor to direct the police to "take cognizance of the allegations of the abetment to suicide of Santhosh Patil by KS Eshwarappa and his allies".

Chief Minister Basvaraj Bommai has said that he will speak to Minister Eswarappa in connection with the contractor's death, to know about the latter's stand on his resignation over the matter.

"Yes, FIR registered... Collected all information. I will speak with Eshwarappa.... I will speak with him over the phone call and directly.... I don't know what he (Eshwarappa) said (about resignation). It will be cleared when we speak directly," Bommai told reporters.

Patil, who was a BJP leader and a contractor, had accused Eswarappa of corruption, was found dead in a lodge in Udupi on Tuesday.

Bommai had directed the police to ensure a speedy and transparent investigation into the matter.