Centre offers CBI probe into Karnataka IAS officer's death

New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) The central government is ready for a CBI inquiry into the death of Karnataka IAS officer D.K. Ravi if the state government wants, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday.

Making an intervention during zero hour in the Lok Sabha, Rajnath Singh said a delegation of parliament members met him and demanded that a CBI inquiry be initiated into the incident.

"Some senior IAS officers have also raised this demand," he said.

The home minister said: "I have spoken with the Karnataka chief minister and he has said he will send a detailed report within a couple of days".

"If the state government wants (CBI probe), then as soon as I get a representation from them, we will be ready for a CBI inquiry".

D.K. Ravi, a 36-year-old additional commissioner in the state commercial tax department, was found dead on March 16 at his official apartment. His wife found him hanging from a ceiling fan.

The issue was raised in the Lok Sabha on Thursday by BJP member Prahlad Joshi, who is from Karnataka.

Joshi said: "We met Rajnath Singh to apprise him of the situation and how people are been treated there (Karnataka)".

"I demand a CBI inquiry," he said, adding that the parents of the officer are also demanding it.

"The CID works under home minister of Karnataka against whom fingers are being raised," Joshi said.

Joshi's comments led to a protest by Congress members in the house. Amid the uproar, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the house briefly for 15 minutes.