Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 23: Finally, after days of intense pressure from all quarters, especially the opposition parties, the Karnataka government on Monday March 23 announced CBI probe into the mysterious death of IAS officer D K Ravi.
As expected, the announcement was made by chief minister Siddaramaiah in the state Assembly on Monday.
The chief minister said that he was referring the case to CBI honouring the feelings of parents of officer D K Ravi and public sentiments.
"I understand the feelings of Ravi's parents.... We respect public sentiments..," Siddaramaiah said, adding, the government was keen that the truth should be brought out and culprits punished.
He also asserted that the government never wanted to hush up the case nor did it intend to protect anyone.
"...We believe in people's power. We believe in respecting public sentiments," said the Chief Minister who was facing rising public anger and growing clamour for a CBI probe.
The family of 35-year old Ravi, who had made a mark as a bold officer and taken on the sand and land mafia besides ordering crackdown on tax evaders, had suspected foul play and demanded an inquiry by the central agency.
Though the opposition parties BJP and JD(S) welcomed the announcement, a pandemonium was witnessed as they demanded the CM to take back his allegations that the opposition parties were using the case to 'gain political mileage'.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who had earlier asked Siddaramaiah to order CBI probe into the case, has written to D K Ravi's wife assuring a fair investigation.
On Sunday March 22, the Karnataka high court ordered the state government and CID not to make public the details of the interim report.
With PTI Inputs