Karnataka CM says state government's stand on IAS officer D K Ravi's death to be announced on Monday

BENGALURU: Chief minister Siddaramaiah today indicated that IAS officer DK Ravi's death investigation would be handed over to the CBI, saying that the state government's stand will be made known on the floor of the legislative assembly on Monday. Though AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh yesterday said the Karnataka CM has been asked to hand over the officer's death probe to the CBI, now being investigated by the CID, there had been no confirmation from the government. Under fire from all quarters with the state bureaucrats also demanding for one, Siddaramaiah has been compelled to refer the case to CBI. Ravi posted as additional commissioner, commercial taxes (enforcement) was found dead in his apartment on March 16. In his brief interaction with the media to wish Ugadi greetings here , Siddaramaiah justified giving the case to the CID. "How do you say the CID is not investigating? It is also an independent body. Besides Pronab Mohanty who is conducting the inquiry has worked in the CBI earlier. We have to look into the morale of the state police force too,'' Siddaramaiah said. The CM also dismissed reports that he has been asked by AICC president Sonia Gandhi to refer the case to the CBI. "Madam has not instructed me to do this or that. She told me I am giving you a free hand, take your own decision,'' he claimed Siddaramaiah, who was compelled to come out of Vidhana Soudha on Thursday and meet Ravi's parents, who took the government by surprise by staging a dharna outside the secretariat, said he had also told them that any decision to ask the CBI to step in would be taken following the CID's report. ``The CID's interim report will be tabled in the assembly on Monday and the next stand will be announced,'' he added. "I am making it clear that the government is not going to protect any person or hide anything. Whatever statements the opposition parties are making are politically motivated,'' Siddaramaiah said. The BJP has decided to keep up the pressure on the CM for a CBI probe. Parties senior leaders led by Prahlad Joshi and Jagadish Shettar will stage a dharna in Bengaluru on Sunday. -TOI