Bengaluru: CBI has turned down the request of Karnataka Government seeking a time-bound probe in the alleged suicide of IAS officer D K Ravi, saying there is no provision in law to complete investigations in a given period.

CBI sources said that a communication has been sent to Department of Personnel and Training requesting for a fresh notification to takeover probe in Ravi’s death.

They said once fresh notification is received, the agency will examine the matter whether to takeover probe or not in the controversial death which has snowballed into a major political controversy in Karnataka.

The sources said the notification received from the DoPT has come with a request to complete to the probe within three months which was not according to law.

They said state government handing over probe to CBI cannot give time limit for concluding the probe, hence a fresh notification has been sought from the state government.

The death of Ravi, who took on land mafia and realtors, spiralled into a major controversy after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah initially refused to seek a CBI probe in the case. The case was being probed by Karnataka CID.

Opposition parties and activists then mounted pressure on the state government demanding that the investigation in the case be handed over to CBI.

The decision to transfer the probe to CBI come after Congress president Sonia Gandhi wrote in March to Ravi’s wife promising a fair and transparent probe into the incident.

This came after Ravi’s mother reportedly wrote an open letter to her seeking an impartial probe.

Siddaramaiah had said there had never been a case where an incident had straightaway been referred to CBI immediately after its occurrence.

With the federal set-up in the country, the Centre could not refer a case suo motu to CBI and could do so based on a state’s request, he had said.

The state government had maintained that Ravi’s death prima facie seemed to be a case of suicide, but the opposition parties and the family of the IAS officer have refused to accept the theory.

Ravi’s family had raised doubts over the police claim that he committed suicide, saying that he was under “political pressure”.

(Agencies)

Bengaluru: Opposition parties continued their dharna for the third day today in the state Assembly demanding a CBI probe into the mysterious death of an upright IAS officer,forcing its adjournment till March 23, as protests over the death persisted across the state.

As the Assembly met, BJP and JDS members, continuing their round-the-clock dharna for the third day, raised slogans insisting on a CBI probe, as government remained unrelenting in its stand that CID was competent enough to do it.

Amid the din, a bill was introduced and a condolence message read out over the passing away of Tulu language film actor Tailor, with the opposition members remaining in the well of the House.

Higher Education Minister R V Deshpande said the government would ensure a “transparent” inquiry into the death of D K Ravi, who was found hanging from a ceiling fan at a room in his apartment on Monday evening.

Government has maintained that it was prima facie a case of suicide, but the opposition parties and the family of the IAS officer have refused to accept the theory and are seeking a probe by CBI.

Opposition BJP leader Jagadish Shettar said the House was not in order but as the ruckus continued, Speaker Kagodu Thimappa abruptly announced adjournment of the House till Monday.

Joining hands, BJP and JDS MLAs staged a dharna in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue near the Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat, holding placards and shouting slogans demanding a CBI probe.

Meanwhile, protests continued in Bengaluru and Tumakuru, the district from which Ravi hailed.

In Tumakuru, ABVP students blocked a national highway demanding a CBI investigation but were chased away by police who made a mild laticharge. The district is also observing a bandh today in response to a call given by various organisations.

Students of Agricultural University in Bengaluru, where Ravi graduated in agriculture, also marched in a procession seeking “justice” and a CBI probe into the death of Ravi.

The family of Ravi has alleged that there was “political pressure” and it was not suicide but a murder which should be probed only by CBI.

Several IAS officers in the state have also signed an online petition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking inquiry by the central agency.

(PTI)

The people’s protest in front of Town Hall, Bangalore.