Former Karnataka BJP minister B C Patil’s son-in-law dies allegedly by suicide

Though the police recovered a bottle of poison from the car, they have not found a suicide note, said Uma Prashanth, Davanagere Superintendent of Police.

Later in the day, BJP leader Patil told reporters that Pratap was depressed as the couple who got married in 2008 did not have children and he gradually became addicted to alcohol and faced health issues.

“He was like my son who took care of my political career and business,” he added.

According to the police, Pratap Kumar, a resident of Kattalagere village near Davanagere, had parked his car near Arakere village forest area in Honnali taluk on the Harihara-Shivamogga highway and allegedly consumed poison.

The local residents noticed Pratap struggling in the car, and shifted him to Meggan Hospital in Shivamogga where he breathed his last.

“Pratap Kumar apparently took the extreme step due to personal issues. We have taken his mobile phone for further investigation,” said SP Prashanth.