Bengaluru/Kolar (PTI): Protests marked by stray incidents of stone pelting erupted during a bandh in Kolar district today over the death of an IAS officer who allegedly committed suicide, even as police said they were probing his death from “every angle”.
Angry protesters in Kolar district where 35-year-old D K Ravi had taken on the sand mafia as Deputy Commissioner before being posted as Additional Commissioner of Commercial Taxes (Enforcement) in Bengaluru, also blocked a National Highway placing burning tyres before being chased away by police.
The house of local MLA in Kolar Varthur Prakash was stoned but police rushed and dispersed the protesters, police said.
Ravi, who had taken on the sand and land mafia, had allegedly committed suicide by hanging from a ceiling fan in his room at his official flat here yesterday after returning home from office in the morning.
(CM Visited Victoria Hospital for Pay last Respect to D.K Ravi)
The protesters, including some political leaders, are demanding a CBI probe into what they allege is the mysterious death of Ravi, who on his posting in Bengaluru had taken on the land mafia cracking down on them for tax evasion.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner M N Reddi said that forensically, medically and examination of the situation all point to “prima facie understanding of a suicide.”
He said Ravi was a “bold officer” and it was natural for people to think he was not a person to have committed suicide.
But, he added, “let us wait for the medical report…no single angle will be untouched…. every angle will be covered.”
“We have not found any suicide note as of now and prima facie, we don’t see any room for foul play,” he said.
Reddi said police would examine the CCTV footage from the apartment complex and analyse Ravi’s mobile records.
Ravi, a Karnataka cadre officer of 2009 batch, who had taken on the sand mafia as Deputy Commissioner of Kolar district, had struck a chord with the people for being an honest and responsive officer.
He was posted as Additional Commissioner of Commercial Taxes in October from Kolar which had then evoked strong protests from the local people.
Police have announced a special investigation team, headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-East) Rohini Katoch, who is a medical doctor by qualification, to probe the case.
Katoch is being assisted by forensic, medical and regular police teams specially selected for it.
Apprehending trouble, the Department of Pre-University Education has postponed the mathematics and geography examinations scheduled for today to March 28.
As the Legislative Assembly met for the day today, senior BJP leaders Jagadish Shettar and Suresh Kumar demanded a CBI probe into the death of Ravi.
Kumar,speaking to reporters earlier,said though he has a lot of respect for state investigation agencies, in this case, it has become mandatory that it should be handed over to CBI.
Former Chief Minister and Karnataka JDS President H D Kumaraswamy said the officer had taken some bold decisions against powerful and influential builders and sand mafia.
He also said that Ravi had taken on the sand mafia when he was Deputy Commissioner of Kolar District and even after his transfer to Bengaluru, he received threat calls.
Ravi also was instrumental in clearing encroachments on government land.
Bengaluru: Opposition demands CBI probe into IAS officer’s death
Bengaluru, Mar 17 (PTI): Opposition parties in the Karnataka Assembly today made a strong demand for a CBI inquiry into the death of an IAS officer as they suspected it to be a case of murder and not suicide as stated by police.
Raising the issue, Opposition BJP leader and former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar demanded a CBI probe into the death of D K Ravi, Additional Commissioner of Commercial Taxes (Enforcement), saying he suspected it to be a case of murder.
“Looking at the death of the IAS officer, the Chief Minister should hand over the case to CBI as it appears to be murder instead of suicide as claimed by the police,” he said.
Shettar said the IAS officer had been receiving threat calls from influential and powerful builders and underworld dons because he had taken some hard decisions against them.
Ravi, who had taken on the sand and land mafia, had allegedly committed suicide by hanging from a ceiling fan in his room at his official flat here yesterday after returning home from office in the morning.
Police have said that prima facie, it was a case of suicide.
Shettar also said the incident raises suspicion about the nexus between developers and politicians.
“The government should treat this case as an organised crime,” he said.
The government should collect call details of the deceased IAS officer to know the truth behind his death and also take steps to prevent destruction of evidence and clues pertaining to the incident, the former Chief Minister said.
“The state government has failed in protecting honest officials,” he said.
Former Chief Minister and state JD(S) President H D Kumaraswamy also pressed for a CBI enquiry as he suspected it to be a case of murder.
Senior BJP leader Suresh Kumar said, “People are already suspecting that the politicians and builders are related to this incident.”
|”This incident has shocked the people of the state and the government should take appropriate action to send right message to people and honest officers,” he said.
Former Home Minister R Ashoka (BJP) said since the people themselves are demanding that the case be handed over to CBI, the Chief Minister should honour their demand.
Ashoka flayed city police commissioner M N Reddi for terming the incident as a prima facie case of suicide without carrying out any investigation.
“This only raises suspicion that the government is trying to bury the case and cover the crime of some influential and powerful people,” he said.