Karnataka IAS Officer DK Ravi's Death: Opposition Protests Grow Louder as State Government Says No to CBI Probe

Bengaluru:

Union Law Minister Sadananda Gowda of the BJP will meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh today to demand a CBI inquiry into the death of 36-year-old IAS officer DK Ravikumar. But the Karnataka government dug in its heels, with both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and state home minister KJ George ruling it out.

"There is a great suspicion in the minds of the people of Karnataka. Neither the state government nor the investigation agencies can conduct a free, fair investigation," said Mr Gowda, who is a former chief minister of Karnataka.
But Mr Siddaramaiah has said the Criminal Investigation Department or CID of the state police is "perfectly capable" of handling investigation in the case. "There is no need for the CBI inquiry. We had given one, Soujanya case, to the CBI... Let them finish it first," Mr George said today.

Mr Ravi was found dead in his Bengaluru apartment on Monday. He had taken on the sand mafia during his tenure as district collector in Kolar. Last year, he was deputed to the Commercial Tax department and was investigating real estate majors and big jewellers for alleged tax evasion.

The police have called his death "prima facie a case of suicide". But there have been massive protests and a widespread demand for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI.

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"DK Ravi was a very honest officer. He was murdered because of political reasons," senior BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa alleged, adding, "We, the MLAs of all opposition parties, demand a CBI inquiry."

Members of opposition parties, the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) sat on a dharna overnight in the Karnataka assembly.

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Mr Siddaramaiah said he had met some of the opposition leaders on protest at the Vidhana Soudha. "I tried to persuade them to let the budget session continue, but they didn't agree," he said.