Sonia Gandhi advices Karnataka CM to order CBI probe into DK Ravi's death

New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to handover the inquiry into the death of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer DK Ravi, who took on sand mafia in Karnataka's Kolar district, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

"The Congress President has advised the Karnataka Chief Minister to hand over the inquiry into IAS officer D K Ravi's death to CBI," party general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Digvijay Singh said.

Sonia Gandhi's appeal comes amidst an outrage for a thorough investigation into the mysterious death of DK Ravi.

Siddaramaiah, who is under sharp criticism from various quarters for not handing over the death case of the IAS officer to the CBI, met Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala earlier today and briefed him about the latest developments in the case.

"I have met the Governor. I have explained to him the developments in Ravi's case till date," Siddaramaiah told reporters after meeting the Governor at Raj Bhavan.

Ravi, a 2009 batch IAS officer was found dead in mysterious circumstances on Monday at his residence in Bengaluru.

Preliminary investigations suggest that Ravi allegedly committed suicide at his official residence in Bengaluru's Koramangala area.

The matter of Ravi's death and demands for a fair probe was discussed in Parliament also. Home Minister Rajnath has also offered CBI enquiry to look into the IAS officer's death.

“If the state government recommends a CBI probe, the Centre will immediately order an enquiry by the central investigating agency,” Singh had said in Lok Sabha yesterday.

Earlier, refusing to yield to mounting pressure for a CBI probe into the mysterious death of Ravi, Karnataka Government had announced a CID probe into his death, which had evoked a statewide outrage and protests.

The 35-year-old officer was an Additional Commissioner on deputation with the Commercial Tax department.

(With Agency inputs)