IAS Officers Petition PM Narendra Modi, Demand CBI Probe in DK Ravi's Death
03:34AM Thu 19 Mar, 2015
BENGALURU: Amidst rising public anger over the mysterious death of Indian Administrative Service officer DK Ravi, several IAS officers in Karnataka have signed an online petition addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
13.58 lakh people have so far signed the online campaign, being undertaken by a voluntary trust Uttishta Bharatha.
Speaking to Press Trust of India, Additional Chief Secretary (Environment, Forest and Ecology) M Madana Gopal said the case should be handed over to the CBI for inquiry even as there are attempts from some quarters to assassinate the character of the IAS officer.
"The case should be handed over to an independent agency - CBI - even as there are attempts from some quarters to assassinate the character of the deceased IAS officer. There are attempts made to kill Ravi for second time. We will not allow it," he said.
Mr Gopal, however, said in no way he was questioning and doubting the credentials of state-run investigating agencies.
"This does not mean we, IAS officers, are against and suspecting the abilities of the state investigative agencies. They are able, but this case is of different genre and should be given to an independent agency," the IAS officer said.
DK Ravi was found hanging from a ceiling fan by his wife's sari on Monday at his Bengaluru apartment. The police has said it's "prima facie a case of suicide" and the Karnataka government has rejected the demand for a CBI investigation, arguing that an inquiry by the state's Central Investigation Department or CID is sufficient.
The 36-year-old IAS officer had taken on the sand mafia during his tenure as district collector in Kolar and was reportedly still getting threats. Last year, he was deputed to the Commercial Tax department. He was investigating real estate majors and big jewellers for alleged tax evasion and had conducted several big raids.
Agencies
"The case should be handed over to an independent agency - CBI - even as there are attempts from some quarters to assassinate the character of the deceased IAS officer. There are attempts made to kill Ravi for second time. We will not allow it," he said.
Mr Gopal, however, said in no way he was questioning and doubting the credentials of state-run investigating agencies.
"This does not mean we, IAS officers, are against and suspecting the abilities of the state investigative agencies. They are able, but this case is of different genre and should be given to an independent agency," the IAS officer said.
DK Ravi was found hanging from a ceiling fan by his wife's sari on Monday at his Bengaluru apartment. The police has said it's "prima facie a case of suicide" and the Karnataka government has rejected the demand for a CBI investigation, arguing that an inquiry by the state's Central Investigation Department or CID is sufficient.
The 36-year-old IAS officer had taken on the sand mafia during his tenure as district collector in Kolar and was reportedly still getting threats. Last year, he was deputed to the Commercial Tax department. He was investigating real estate majors and big jewellers for alleged tax evasion and had conducted several big raids.
Agencies
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