BJP, Congress spar over credit for CBI probe into IAS officer DK Ravi's death case

New Delhi: A credit war has broken out between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress over the transfer of death case of IAS officer DK Ravi to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for investigation.

Slamming state government's delay into the matter, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “Valuable time has been lost, would have been good if this demand of CBI inquiry had been accepted from beginning.”

On the other hand, senior Congress leader and Karnataka in-charge Digvijay Singh said, “In any case preliminary investigation is done by State police, then it's referred to CBI if required. But family of IAS DK Ravi wanted CBI investigation, so we asked State government to hand it over to CBI,” ANI reported.

Continuing his tirade against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, JD (S) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Monday said the Karnataka Government has handed over IAS officer DK Ravi`s death case to the CBI due to directions from the Congress High Command and not out of respect for the people of the state.

"I`m really surprised by the reply of the Karnataka Chief Minister on the floor of the house. He only handed over the case to the CBI after directions from Congress High Command and not out of respect for demand of people of Karnataka," said Kumaraswamy. 

Meanwhile, Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) chief BS Yeddyurappa accused Siddaramaiah of behaving like a dictator. 

"Chief Minister referred the investigation to CBI, due to pressure created by not only people of the state but family of the officer. He was behaving like a dictator, the people of the state have taught him a lesson. We also demand the resignation of state home minister," said Yeddyurappa. 

Earlier in the day, the Karnataka government ordered a CBI probe into the death of IAS officer DK Ravi in Bengaluru, a week ago that triggered public outrage after police prime facie termed it a case of suicide.

Notably, the decision to transfer the case to the CBI came three days after Congress president Sonia Gandhi on March 20 advised Siddaramaiah to that effect, as the budget session of the legislature remained paralysed since March 17 in the face of vociferous demand for CBI probe by the opposition BJP and JD-S (Janata Dal-Secular) in both the houses.

A stay by the Karnataka High Court on Sunday evening against the release of the CID's interim report into Ravi's death to public prevented the chief minister from tabling it on the floor of the house.

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.

Opposition BJP and JDS had also launched an offensive against the Siddaramaiah government with public protests raging statewide ever since the death of Ravi.

(With Agency inputs)