The Congress party had staged a protest rally to then Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommais residence on the Race Course road to press for dismissal and arrest of Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Minister KS Eshwarappa over the suicide of civil contractor Santhosh Patil after he allegedly came under pressure to pay a hefty bribe over unpaid bills. The High Grounds Police in Bengaluru had booked cases against the four Congress leaders for holding protests in a non-designated area and blocking the traffic.