IAS Officer, Who Took on Sand Mafia, Found Dead in Bengaluru

mangaloretoday.com/ NDTV

Bengaluru, March 16:  DK Ravi, a 2009 batch IAS officer, who had earned a reputation for being upright, was found dead on Monday at his residence at Madiwala in Bengaluru.

His body was found hanging from the ceiling.

Ravi, who had recently taken over as joint commissioner of Commercial Taxes, had been chasing builders in the city who had been evading taxes for years, one of his colleagues told HT on the condition of anonymity.

The 35-year-old had taken on the sand mafia as deputy commissioner of Kolar district.

 

 

Kolar police have deployed additional personnel to prevent the lockdown called by some organizations as a mark of respect for Ravi.

Although the police are yet to ascertain the cause of death, speculation is rife that he was under pressure as a result of the risk he was taking at work.

"Prima facie, it appears to be a case of suicide," Bengaluru police commissioner M N Reddi told reporters. He said no suicide note had been found presently adding the officer had returned home around 11:15am and the death must have occurred before evening.

A special team has been formed to probe the case, he said.

To a query, Reddi said, "Prima facie, we do not see any room for foulplay." "I have spoken to (Police) Commissioner and have asked him to investigate the matter completely," Karnataka home minister KJ George told reporters.

George who visited the spot, however, did not comment on the nature and possible reasons behind the death.

"It has to be investigated... all angles will be looked into," he said when asked about reports that the officer faced threats to his life.

"I have spoken about the incident to the Police Commissioner. He was an upright officer, he was a youth and doing a great work. His death is a great loss to the state," George said.

Ravi’s work as deputy commissioner, especially action against the sand mafia had earned him good name among the people and his transfer from Kolar district, had triggered protests.

 

 

Kolar mourns its once-beloved DC


D K Ravi, the IAS officer who was found dead at his residence in Bengaluru on Monday, was popular as "our DC" for the people of Kolar. Ravi served as deputy commissioner of Kolar district from August 2013 to October 2014. His was a pro-people approach from the day he assumed office.

Ravi had won the hearts of the people of the parched district through his measures to ameliorate their plight. He had so endeared himself to the people of Kolar that even after six months of his transfer, Ravi was being referred to as "Our DC." His transfer had evoked strong protest from the civic society and there was even a call for Kolar bundh.

 Ravi had initiated several measures to address problems faced by people. He came out with the concept of "Revenue adalat" and "Podi adalat" to resolve the grievances pertaining to agricultural land. Farmers who had to run from pillar to post for demarcating their lands, got the job done at their doorsteps. The initiative helped in settling several land disputes.

The government has now decided to emulate the model across the State. If people are to be believed, Ravi’s uncompromising stance on protecting public properties and quality of development works, led to his transfer. His transfer proposal had gained ground after he ordered clearance of land found to have been encroached by a realty firm. Ravi used to conduct classes for IAS aspirants at T Chennaiah Rangamandira in Kolar every Sundays. His three-hour classes used to draw a large number of civil service aspirants. Several people from Kolar were in regular contact with Ravi even after his transfer.

A pall of gloom descended on Kolar soon after the news of Ravi’s death spread. Traders closed down their shops voluntarily and the town wore a deserted look in a short span of time. Hundreds of youth took out a rally in the town condemning the death. Several organisations have called for a Kolar district bundh on Tuesday. A candle light vigil was held at Gandhi Bhavan and some of the participants were seen crying inconsolably. "

The death of Ravi indicates the fate that awaits honest persons," a wailing Zilla Panchayat member Chowdeshwari summed up. D K Ravi, the IAS officer who was found dead at his residence in Bengaluru on Monday, was popular as "our DC" for the people of Kolar. Ravi served as deputy commissioner of Kolar district from August 2013 to October 2014.His was a pro-people approach from the day he assumed office.

 Ravi had won the hearts of the people of the parched district through his measures to ameliorate their plight. He had so endeared himself to the people of Kolar that even after six months of his transfer, Ravi was being referred to as "Our DC." His transfer had evoked strong protest from the civic society and there was even a call for Kolar bundh.

Ravi had initiated several measures to address problems faced by people. He came out with the concept of "Revenue adalat" and "Podi adalat" to resolve the grievances pertaining to agricultural land. Farmers who had to run from pillar to post for demarcating their lands, got the job done at their doorsteps. The initiative helped in settling several land disputes.

The government has now decided to emulate the model across the State. If people are to be believed, Ravi’s uncompromising stance on protecting public properties and quality of development works, led to his transfer. His transfer proposal had gained ground after he ordered clearance of land found to have been encroached by a realty firm.


Ravi used to conduct classes for IAS aspirants at T Chennaiah Rangamandira in Kolar every Sundays. His three-hour classes used to draw a large number of civil service aspirants. Several people from Kolar were in regular contact with Ravi even after his transfer.A pall of gloom descended on Kolar soon after the news of Ravi’s death spread. Traders closed down their shops voluntarily and the town wore a deserted look in a short span of time.

Hundreds of youth took out a rally in the town condemning the death. Several organisations have called for a Kolar district bundh on Tuesday. A candle light vigil was held at Gandhi Bhavan and some of the participants were seen crying inconsolably. "The death of Ravi indicates the fate that awaits honest persons," a wailing Zilla Panchayat member Chowdeshwari summed up.