Karnataka govt. delayed in hand over of DK Ravi case to CBI: Sadananda Gowda

Union Law and Justice Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda on Monday criticised Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for delaying in the handing over the enquiry into the death of IAS officer DK Ravi to the CBI, adding that he hoped the agency would do a fair investigation in the case.

"They should have [handed the case to the CBI] in the initial stages itself, when the people of the whole state demanded it. They should have done it when the people appended that the investigation by the state police or the state government will not give justice or fair investigation," Gowda told ANI.

"The duty of the Chief Minister would have been to hand over the case to the CBI at the earliest stage. At least now he has done it, so I congratulate him. The attitude that has been taken by the government and the initial statements by the police and the state Home Minister created a confusion in the minds of the people that a fair investigation would not happen," he added.

Earlier in the day, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah decided to hand over the case to the CBI.

"I have decided to hand over the case to the CBI for investigation. I had said that CID will investigate and a senior official of CID had started the investigation. We will give a status report on the investigation while the assembly is in session, but even that is not acceptable to the opposition," said Siddaramaiah in the Karnataka State Assembly.

Before calling for a CBI probe in the case, he said the government's objective was not to cover up anything and that it is not trying to protect anybody.

Ravi, 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.