Poojary urges CBI inquiry into D K Ravi death

Mangaluru, Mar 17: In the wake of state-wide protests after the sudden death of IAS officer D K Ravi in Bengaluru on Monday, former union minister B Janardhan Poojary urged the Chief Minister of Karnataka to conduct a CBI enquiry in the case.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, he said that no person was willing to believe that such a bold and straightforward IAS officer had hung himself. The chief minister should set an example to the entire country by ordering a CBI inquiry in the death of IAS officer D K Ravi and send a message that the government will protect its officers. He should order a CBI probe to give the message that no criminal would go unpunished. There should be a thorough investigation in this regard, he urged.

The Centre also has a responsibility as much as the state government in this regard. There are only a handful of worthy officers in the state and country. Is it possible for such a brave IAS officer who took on the sand mafia and land mafia tax evaders, to have committed a suicide? Hence, there should be a thorough probe in his death, he reiterated, adding that even if the death was proved a suicide, there was a law that sought punishment for abetment to suicide.

Mr Poojary also urged that the media should highlight the issue to the extent that the central government took cognizance of the mysterious death since the deceased IAS officer had been selected and appointed by the Centre.

No culprit involved in his death, powerful or otherwise, should be allowed to go unpunished. Corruption should be tackled at all costs, he urged, stating that the young IAS officer had been loved and respected by all for his sincere work and sense of justice towards the common man and the poor.

He advised activists and protestors to conduct peaceful protests against the death of the young officer so that the law and order would not be disrupted in the state.