Mother of IAS Officer May Contest Polls to Avenge His Suicide

Officer Ravi’s mother said she may contest elections, but gave no indication about which party she would support.

Officer DK Ravi, a 34-year-old IAS officer, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his Bengaluru apartment in March 2015

(File Photo: PTI)

To avenge the “injustice” meted out to her son, Gowramma, the mother of late IAS officer DK Ravi, said she may contest the upcoming Assembly polls, reported Suvarna News. However, she did not clarify whether she will stand as an independent or join one of the Opposition parties.

Karnataka is due to go to Assembly polls in 2018.

In March 2015, DK Ravi, a 34-year-old IAS officer, was found hanging from a ceiling fan inside his Bengaluru apartment. Known to be an honest officer who had taken on the sand mafia in Kolar, his death had triggered widespread protests in parts of Karnataka.

“I am contemplating contesting this Assembly election after my son’s fans forced me to think in this way. I may contest from Kolar,” Suvarna News quoted Gowramma as saying.

His family members have pointed fingers at the ruling Congress, and in particular then-Home Minister KJ George, for driving Ravi to suicide.

They had also alleged that he had faced death threats after he took on realty firm Confident Group for encroaching upon 75 acres of government land. Confident Group is a realty firm with which Bangarpet MLA and Congress leader SN Narayanaswamy has links.

In October 2014, Ravi was transferred from Kolar to Bengaluru, where he was posted as an Additional Commissioner Commercial Tax (Enforcement). Following his death, it was alleged that the Congress government had transferred him from Kolar as he had taken on the realty and sand mafia.

However, the CBI has since concluded that the officer faced no threats and had committed suicide due to financial and personal problems. The agency also said that Ravi was depressed and the trigger for his suicide was a failed relationship with a fellow IAS officer. The CBI report stated that Ravi had also requested to be transferred from Kolar.

(This article was originally published on The News Minute)