The Centre on Monday ordered a CBI probe into the mysterious death of IAS officer DK Ravi after the Karnataka Government fell in line and sent a fresh notification without any time limit for the probe by the Central agency.
“In exercise of power conferred under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, the Central government with the consent of the state government of Karnataka extends the powers of the jurisdiction of the members of Delhi Special Police Establishment to the whole of the state of Karnataka for investigation of a case registered on March 16, into the unnatural death of D K Ravi in Bengaluru,” said the notification issued by Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
The State government had earlier sent a request for a CBI probe into the case with a rider that the investigation should be completed within three months. This was, however, rejected by the CBI which said there could be no time limit for investigation according to the Criminal Procedure Code (Cr. PC).
The State government later issued a fresh notification on April 6 requesting for a CBI probe into the death of Ravi, a 2009 batch IAS officer who had taken on the sand mafia in Karnataka.
He was found dead under mysterious circumstances on March 16, at his residence in Bengaluru. He was holding the charge of Additional Commissioner, Commercial Tax (Enforcement).
The death of Ravi had resulted in a major controversy with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah initially refusing to seek a CBI probe in the case. The case was being probed by Karnataka CID. The central IAS officers’ association and the family members of Ravi had sought CBI probe in the matter.