IAS Officer DK Ravi's Text to Batch-Mate Could be Treated as Suicide Note: Sources

IAS officer DK Ravi, who was found hanging in his home in Bengaluru last week, allegedly sent a woman batch-mate a text message that is likely to be treated as his suicide note, say sources.

The message came up in the Karnataka High Court today during arguments on a petition by the woman's husband. Based on the petition, the court has stopped the state government from making public its initial probe report on DK Ravi's death.

The woman was the last to have been in touch with DK Ravi, according to reports. After his death became public, she reportedly called the police and volunteered information.

The 36-year-old officer was found hanging by his wife's sari from a ceiling fan in his apartment in an upscale part of the city last Monday.

Giving in to intense political pressure, the government today asked the Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI to take over the investigations into the death.

"I am announcing a CBI enquiry not because of pressure by Opposition, but because of what DK Ravi's family wants," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in the Karnataka assembly today, shouting to be heard over protests and slogan shouting.

The opposition accused him of acting only after pressure from his Congress party president Sonia Gandhi, who had written to DK Ravi's wife assuring a fair investigation into his death. The assurance came after the officer's mother wrote an open letter to her, which was published in the newspapers.  

A statement by the police that it "prima facie appears to be suicide" led to angry protests by his family, friends and opposition parties.

DK Ravi was known as an upright officer who boldly took on the powerful sand mafia in Kolar about 100 km from the state capital, despite many threats to his life. The 2009 batch officer had been transferred last year.

Opposition parties say the government's interim probe report was nothing but a cover-up attempt.

The court was told today of several messages and calls from the officer to his batch-mate, but his family alleges a conspiracy.