IAS officer death: govt statements violation of fundamental Facing public outcry over the death of Ravi in mysterious circumstances, Karnataka government has handed over the case to CBI after allegations that he did not commit suicide as claimed by police.
Statements given by Karnataka government and its investigating agencies in the "unnatural death" of upright IAS officer DK Ravi are more offensive than the telecast of the documentary on Nirbhaya because investigation into the matter is incomplete as yet, it was contended in the Karnataka High Court today.
Making submissions for the husband of an IAS officer who was a batchmate of Ravi, his counsel Sajan Poovaiah said the government statements amounted to violation of fundamental rights of the citizen and outraging the dignity of women. "The telecast of BBC documentary (on Nirbhaya) was illegal when the appeals in this case were pending in the Supreme court," he submitted. BBC had aired the documentary, containing the controversial interview of a convict in the December 16,2012 gangrape despite a Delhi court prohibiting it. This evoked mixed reactions among political parties.
The High Court is hearing a petition filed by Sudhir Reddy, husband of the woman IAS officer, seeking restrictions on publication of any interim report or making any public statement pertaining to investigation being conducted by the government through CID.
Facing public outcry over the death of Ravi in mysterious circumstances, Karnataka government has handed over the case to CBI after allegations that he did not commit suicide as claimed by police. 35-year-old Ravi was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his apartment on March 16.
Countering the submissions made by Additional Advocate General AS Ponnanna, Poovaiah said "under the laws, there is no absolute power to make statements on the floor of the House, especially amid investigation," he said.
Poovaiah also submitted that when the investigation itself is incomplete, the respondents or the Chief Minister can hardly claim to be aware of the truth and are not empowered to disclose any information when the intent is to make the same public.
The High Court had, on March 24, directed Reddy to file objections to the government's plea. The government had filed objections to the petition filed by Reddy seeking restrictions on publication of any interim report or making any public statement pertaining to investigation being conducted by the government through CID.
The government is seeking vacation of restraint on publishing or making public the interim report pertaining to the investigation carried out by CID into the death of Ravi.
The High Court had, in a special hearing at the residence of Justice Nazeer on March 22, restrained the government from publishing any interim report, ahead of Siddaramaiah making an announcement in the Assembly.
Later, Justice Abdul Nazeer recorded the statement of the respondents who stated that since the government has handed over the case to CBI, it has lost the jurisdiction and also cannot make any statement.
In response, Poovaiah seconded the statement but appealed to allow him to make further submissions day after tomorrow before concluding.
Justice Nazeer posted the matter for hearing on April nine.
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