IAS officer's death case: BJP protests against govt., adamant on CBI probe

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday continued to mount pressure on the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka to order a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into IAS officer D.K Ravi's death case.

Senior BJP leaders, including former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, staged a protest here demanding a CBI probe into the IAS officer's mysterious death.

Yeddyurappa said that the protests would continue till the Chief Minister refers this case to the CBI.

"We stick to our demand to give this (case) to the CBI without further delay. Our protest will continue till the Chief Minister orders for CBI enquiry. We have already discussed it in the Parliament. We met Rajnath Singh, the Home Minister, also. We requested him. He already spoke to the Chief Minister," Yeddyurappa said.

"I think I am told that even Rajyapal (Karnataka Governor) also spoke to the Chief Minister..... He must refer it to the CBI," he added.

BJP leader Jagdhish Shettar said that Siddaramaiah should give in to the popular demand for a CBI probe immediately instead of waiting to make an announcement in this regard in the Karnataka Assembly.

"He has officially not announced it. Why is he not announcing? Why is he delaying? What is the necessity? He is announcing it on Monday in the assembly," he said.

The IAS officer, posted as Joint Commissioner in Commercial Tax Department, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his apartment by his wife on March 16. The police suspect it to be a case of suicide, though no note was found from around the officer's body.

The state government, which ordered a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the case, has so far ruled out a CBI inquiry.