Hubballi, April 15 : Backing former state Minister KS Eshwarappa’s allegations, on Minister and veteran BJP leader Pralhad Joshi on Friday said the Congress party apparently was behind the suicide of Santosh Patil. “Overall, if you see the conduct and behaviour of the Congress party, it is behind this case. Eshwarappa has made this allegation. Apparently, it is true. That’s what we feel. It looks like a conspiracy. There should be a thorough investigation,” he told reporters here. Also throwing his weight behind Eshwarappa, senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said the Minister announced his resignation under inevitable circumstances and exuded confidence that he would come out clean after the probe. He also said that Eshwarappa will be reinstated as a Minister after 2-3 months, following his getting a clean chit in the investigation. “He tendered his resignation without committing any mistake,” he said. Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said Eshwarappa’s resignation as RDPR minister cannot be considered as a setback for BJP government in the state. He also castigated Congress, asking the grand old party to avoid becoming investigators, prosecutors and judges themselves. Patil, a Belagavi-based contractor, was found dead at a lodge in Udupi on Tuesday, weeks after accusing Eshwarappa of corruption. In a purported suicide note via a WhatsApp message, Patil had blamed Eshwarappa for his death. Based on a complaint from Patil’s relative, the Udupi town police booked Eshwarappa for abetting the suicide. Earlier, Patil had complained to on Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh and BJP Central leaders, stating that he was yet to be paid Rs four crore for road works undertaken in Hindalga village and had accused Eshwarappa’s aides of demanding commission for the payment. BDN RJ