Siddaramaiah writes to Adityanath for thorough probe into Karnataka IAS officer Anurag Tewari’s death

With speculation rife over the circumstances leading to the death of IAS officer Anurag Tewari in Lucknow on Wednesday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday requesting him to ensure that it is “thoroughly investigated by a competent team of investigators and professionals”. Stating that the untimely death of an upright IAS officer of Karnataka cadre has caused great anguish to the people in the State, Mr. Siddaramaiah said it is important that the whole incident, including the circumstances leading to his death and cause of death, is thoroughly investigated. “I would request you to direct the authorities concerned to take up the probe,” he has said in the letter. Meanwhile, speaking at Chitradurga, BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa demanded that Mr. Siddaramaiah seek a CBI probe into Tewari’s death as his family members were alleging that he had been about to expose a huge scam in the Food and Civil Supplies Department in the State. He said he would appeal to Mr. Adityanath to order a probe if Karnataka fails to do so. Shobha Karandlaje, BJP MP, is already in touch with Mr. Adityanath on the issue, he added. At Mangaluru, denying reports that Tewari, who was Commissioner, Food and Civil Supplies Department, was investigating a “scam” in the midday meal scheme, U.T. Khader, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, said there had been no instance of pressure on the officer as has been reported, either by him or by Harsh Gupta, the Regional Commissioner, Kalaburagi, who is holding additional charge as Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies. Condoling the death of Tewari, the Minister told reporters that the Uttar Pradesh government was investigating the case. The State government would cooperate with the UP police in the investigation. Tewari worked with the department only for 37 days, he said.