The death of IAS Officer DK Ravi

A senior IAS officer in Bengaluru, DK Ravi, was found dead in his apartment under mysterious circumstances. The 35-year-old Ravi, Additional Commissioner of Commercial Taxes (Enforcement), reportedly returned from his office early at 11 am. When his wife reached home at around 6 pm, she found him hanging from a ceiling fan. No suicide note, however, was found.

Ravi was known to be a fearless officer with zero tolerance towards corruption. He was in the news lately for leading raids on well-known realty firms for tax evasion. According to media reports, he had raided over 20 firms, including builders, jewellers, exporters and a bank, and recovered over Rs 100 crore in tax dues. He was apparently preparing for more raids. He had also taken on the sand mafia when he was deputy commissioner in Kolar district.

His death has now snowballed into a major controversy in Karnataka, as opposition parties and members of civil society suspect foul play. Opposition parties have been demanding a CBI inquiry, which the government has so far refused. When some opposition members in the Assembly pointed out how one of the realty firms raided by the deceased officer was linked to the state Home Minister KJ George, the latter intervened to say that the probe so far has shown that personal matters drove the officer to commit suicide.

Following the death, various organisations called for a shutdown. There were protests in different parts of Kolar leading to stone pelting and blocking of a national highway. As a result, exams in the state have also been postponed.

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