IAS officer death: Will see if CBI is to be referred, says Siddaramiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah on Tuesday said the city police was capable of investigating the mysterious death of IAS officer D.K. Ravi and added that it remained to be seen if the case will be referred to the investigating agencies.

"Police is capable of investigating; let us see if it is to be referred to the CID or CBI. Prima facie it looks like suicide; we do not know the exact cause of the death yet," Siddaramaiah said.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner M.N. Reddi has said that forensic and medical evidence hinted that IAS officer D.K. Ravi's death was prima facie a case of suicide. He added that a thorough investigation was on and warned against jumping to any conclusion.

Ravi, who took on the sand mafia in Karnataka's Kolar District, was found dead at his residence in mysterious circumstances on Monday.

An officer of the 2009 batch, the 36-year-old was an Additional Commissioner on deputation with the Commercial Tax department.

State Home Minister K J George, Energy Minister D K Shiv Kumar, Congress lawmaker from Kolar District K R Ramesh Kumar and a dozen senior tax officials paid condolence visits on the Ravi family on hearing about his death.

George said that all angles will be looked into to determine what caused Ravi's death. He also described the death as a great loss to the state of Karnataka.

A shutdown is being observed in Kolar following his death.