IAS officer death: HC restrains govt from making public info

However, Justice Abdul Nazeer clarifies that the order will not affect the investigation

Karnataka High Court, in an emergent notice served to the state government, today restrained it from publishing any interim report or making any public statement pertaining to investigation being conducted into the "unnatural death" of IAS officer D K Ravi.

"The respondents are restrained from making or publishing any interim report or making any public statement pertaining to investigation being conducted with regard the unnatural death of D K Ravi, an IAS Officer, pending disposal of this writ petition," Justice Abdul Nazeer said at a special hearing of a petition on the matter in his residence.

Sudhir Reddy, in a petition, had sought a restraint on publication of any interim report or making any public statement pertaining to the probe being conducted by the government through its investigating agency, the CID.

The respondents are the government represented by Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee. Additional Chief Secretary (Home), DGP and IGP Omprakash and CID, investigating the death of the officer under mysterious circumstances.

However, Justice Nazeer clarified that this order will not affect the investigation.

"This, however will not prevent the respondents from continuing with the investigation," he said.

The Judge also summoned the respondents to appear before the court tomorrow.

Ravi was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his flat in Bengaluru on March 16, with police suspecting it to be prima facie a case of suicide.

Public anger has been escalating with demand for a CBI probe into the death of 35-year old Ravi, whose family is also insisting on a CBI probe suspecting foul play.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has also asked Siddaramaiah to order a CBI probe, according to senior leader Digvijay Singh.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has maintained that his government had nothing to hide and was not protecting anybody.