IAS officer's death: We will not protect anybody, says Karnataka CM

Bengaluru: Amid a growing chorus for a CBI probe into the mysterious death of an IAS officer, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Saturday asserted that the government was not protecting anybody and would make its stand known in the Assembly on Monday.

"We are not going to hide anything. We are not going to protect anybody. We are also particular that the truth should come out," the Chief Minister said.

He said the state Crime Investigation Department (CID), which is now probing the case, was also an independent body like the CBI. "We have to look at the morale of our police also."

"Since the Assembly is going on and has been adjourned to Monday, the stand of the government would be made known on the floor of the House," he told reporters, as his government came under increasing pressure with Congress President Sonia Gandhi also advising him to hold an inquiry by the central agency.

He said he had apprised the party central leadership, including Mrs Gandhi, of the developments.

"But madam has not instructed me to do like this or that. She told us that it is for the government to take a decision and given free hand to the government," he claimed.

Siddaramaiah said he understood the sentiments of the people and of the parents of 35-year-old DK Ravi, who was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his apartment on Monday last.

He said he met Mr Ravi's parents on March 18 and had told them that the government would take a decision after the post-mortem and other related reports are available with it.

"I am making it very clear that the government is not going to protect anybody. We are not going to hide anything," Siddaramaiah said.

"We are very transparent in this. We are also very particular that the truth comes out. People of Karnataka should know the truth," he said.