Opposition leaders stage protest outside the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru demanding CBI probe into the death of IAS Officer D K Ravi. (Agence France-Presse)
There is a pitched political battle now on in Karnataka as the opposition demands that the investigation into the death of IAS officer DK Ravi be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI and the government insists that the state's Criminal Investigation Department will handle it.
Opposition parties, the BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular), marched to the Raj Bhavan today to demand the Governor's intervention. They have not allowed the state assembly to function since the officer's death on Monday, forcing an adjournment again on Thursday morning, this time till Monday. They have also sat on protest on two consecutive nights at the state assembly.
"The government ultimately has to take a decision to hand it over to the CBI only. We will not let down that family. We will not let down the honest officers," said former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal (Secular) after meeting the Governor.
On the streets in there were scenes of conflict, also a part of the dramatic and unexpected fallout of the death of the 36-year-old IAS officer, who was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his apartment. His family and friends are among many in the state who insist DK Ravi could not have committed suicide and that his death be investigated by the central agency to ensure a fair inquiry. They point out that Mr Ravi's work involved investigating the corrupt.
"I am not questioning the ability of the police, but it should be a fair inquiry," said an IAS officer Madan Gopal one of 13 lakh people who have signed a petition demanding a CBI probe.
Jagadish Shettar, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and a former BJP chief minister told NDTV, "Approaching the honourable Governor was the last resort... they are adamant. They want to close this case."
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh told Parliament today that he is ready to order a CBI investigation into Mr Ravi's death if the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddharamaiah recommends it.
But the state's home minister K J George said, "Whatever decision has been taken on the floor of the House, we will stand by that." Effectively, the case remains with the state CID for now.