N. R. Santosh, political secretary to chief minister B. S. Yediyurappa, also his grand nephew, being treated at M.S. Ramaiah Hospital is reportedly recovering and stable, a statement from the hospital said.
He allegedly attempted to end his life Friday night, consuming an excess of sleeping pills. "He had his breakfast and is cheerful. He may be discharged in a day or two," a statement from the Hospital said.
Meanwhile, Sadashivanagar Police have registered a case against him under Section 309 of Indian Penal Code for “attempt to suicide”. “We have taken up an investigation. He is still in ICU and is recovering. We will come to know of what may have led him to take the extreme step only after we record his statement,” said a senior police official handling the case.
Mr. Yediyurappa who visited him at the Hospital on Friday late night told media persons that he was also at a loss as to why he would have taken such an extreme step. "I don't know why he did this. He was happy at a recent family wedding that I was also part of. I will enquire with him once he recovers and help him solve any issues he has. I will speak to his family also," he said.
Mr. Santosh’s attempt to end his life has triggered speculations as to what drove him to this end. N R Santosh had played a key role in toppling the JD(S)-Congress coalition government and bringing B. S. Yediyurappa to power. However, he had reportedly fallen out with chief minister's son B. Y. Vijayendra and was kept out of the house. However, he made a comeback and was appointed chief minister's political secretary in May this year, but had reportedly fallen out again and was reportedly asked to put in his papers, that reportedly upset him, sources said.
Denying these reports as "baseless rumours" sources in the chief minister’s family pointed out that Mr. Santosh had marital differences over which he was upset about recently. However, his wife Jahnavi speaking to media persons on Saturday morning, denied they had any differences. “He was under tremendous pressure over the recent political imbalance. He returned home at 7:00 PM Friday, looked upset and went up to his room and was reading a book. But when I went to check on him after sometime he was very drowsy and said he felt this life was enough for him and indicated he had consumed sleeping pills. I rushed him to the hospital," she said
Meanwhile, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D. K. Shivakumar has demanded a “high level impartial probe” into the case. “We had heard two months ago that a minister and a MLC were blackmailing him over a video they possessed. Even the chief minister may have been blackmailed. So this needs an impartial probe,” he said.
(Those in distress or those having suicidal tendencies can call Arogya Sahayavani on Ph: 104 for help.)