BENGALURU: Karnataka minister Eshwarappa, who is facing charges of abetment to suicide in connection with the death of a contractor, has announced his resignation. The resignation comes amid mounting pressure from the national leadership following the protests against the minister. Eshwarappa will hand over his resignation letter to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai tomorrow.

Contractor Santosh had revealed that Minister Eshwarappa had demanded 40 percent commission to pass a bill worth Rs 4 crore. Santosh was preparing to meet Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh to lodge a complaint against the minister. He had also booked a ticket to go to Delhi on Tuesday. However, he was later found dead at a lodge in Udupi under mysterious circumstances. Although the police had stated that it was a suicide, Santosh's family alleged that it was a murder. Following this, a case was registered against the minister.

Eshwarappa had initially claimed that he did not know contractor Santosh. However, the pictures of Santosh meeting Eshwarappa surfaced later.