IAS officer DK Ravi’s death: Karnataka Home Minister says no to CBI probe

Bengaluru: Resisting the growing pressure for a CBI probe, the state government on Thursday decided to stick to its decision not to refer the mysterious death case of IAS officer D.K. Ravi to the central agency as the issue paralysed the Assembly for the third day and echoed in Parliament too.

As public anger escalated with the family of D.K. Ravi insisting on a CBI probe and protests continuing across the state, Home Minister K.J. George made it clear after a cabinet meeting that there was no change in the stand of the government, which has come under attack from the Opposition and others for “stonewalling” a central probe.

“Whatever decision we have taken on the floor of the House (Assembly), that is the decision and we will stick to it,” Mr George told reporters.

The state government had ordered a CID probe into the suicide of the officer who had gained enormous popularity with his no-nonsense approach in taking on the land and sand mining mafia.

Meanwhile, In the Lok Sabha, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said if the state government

recommends a CBI probe, the Centre will immediately order an inquiry by the central agency. “If the state government wants (CBI probe), then as soon as I get a representation from them, we will be ready for a CBI inquiry,” he said, adding that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had spoken to him. “I have spoken with the Karnataka chief minister and he has said he will send a detailed report within a couple of days,” Singh said.