Siddaramaiah should hand over IAS officer's death case to CBI if left with any shame: Deve Gowda

Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda on Saturday said that attempts are being made to cover IAS officer D.K. Ravi's death case, and added that the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka Government should hand over the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if they are left with little shame.

Gowda, who met the family members of the IAS officer to express his condolences, said a lot of stories floating around are aimed at hiding the facts because a lot of influential politicians are behind it.

"There is no doubt attempts are being made to cover up the matter. This case should be referred to the CBI. All the evidences collected, the investigation that has happened so far should be handed over to the CBI. Let them investigate and come out with the truth," he added.

The former prime minister also lashed out at Siddaramaiah for not handing over this case to the CBI.

"The chief minister was addressing a press conference a short while ago, he spoke harshly about Kumaraswamy, I am not bothered with that, all I want is that he should announce on Monday that the case will be handed over to the CBI," said Deve Gowda.

"This is not the problem of Karnataka alone, there several IAS officers who are demanding this. We will wait for Chief Minister's announcement on Monday, he will do it if he has even little shame left," he added.

Blasting the opposition for making baseless allegations to gain political mileage, Siddaramaiah earlier in the day said he had promised the IAS officer's parents that the truth regarding his death would come out.

"H D Kumaraswamy said 'I went to tamper post mortem reports when I paid respect to DK Ravi's body', comments for political mileage. The government will not hide anything, will not protect anyone. I have been in politics for thirty five years, I understand people's sentiments and respect them, more importantly I promised his parents that I will get the truth," said Siddaramaiah.

"Opposition is making allegations for sake of politics. I am not interested in burying the truth, that's not my business. We also want the truth to come out, that's what I have promised to the parents," he added.

Siddaramaiah is believed to have decided to refer the IAS officer's death probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The Chief Minister, who is expected to announce the CBI probe into the IAS officer's death on the floor of the state assembly on Monday, had earlier been advised by Congress president Sonia Gandhi to do the same.

Ravi, who was an Additional Commissioner on deputation with the Commercial Tax department, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his house last Monday.

His death has resulted in widespread protests all over Karnataka, with politically parties, predominantly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), calling for a CBI investigation into the matter.