DK Ravi - IAS officer who took on sand mafia found dead

Bengaluru: An IAS officer, who had made a mark in administration for his uprightness, was found dead at his official flat with police suspecting it to be a case of suicide.

Additional Commissioner of Commercial Taxes (Enforcement) D K Ravi had hung himself from the fan in a room, Bengaluru Police Commissioner M N Reddi told reporters.

"Prima facie, it appears to be a case of suicide," Reddi said. He said no suicide note had been found presently adding the officer had returned home around 11.15 am and the death must have occurred before evening.

A special team has been formed to probe the case, he said.

The 35-year-old Ravi had taken on the sand mafia as Deputy Commissioner of Kolar district.

To a query, Reddi said, "Prima facie, we do not see any room for foulplay."

"I have spoken to (Police) Commissioner and have asked him to investigate the matter completely," Karnataka Home Minister K J George told reporters.

George who visited the spot, however, did not comment on the nature and possible reasons behind the death.

"It has to be investigated... All angles will be looked into," he said when asked about reports that the officer faced threats to his life.

"I have spoken about the incident to the Police Commissioner. He was an upright officer, he was a youth and doing a great work. His death is a great loss to the state," George said.

Ravi, who was Kolar Deputy Commissioner, was posted as Additional Commissioner of Commercial Taxes in October.

His work as Deputy Commissioner, especially action against the sand mafia had earned him good name among the people, different organisations and citizens groups who had called district bandh following his transfer.

Ravi was a 2009 batch Karnataka cadre IAS officer.