In a new twist to the mysterious death of IAS officer D K Ravi, his father-in-law today alleged that the CID probing it has deleted sensitive evidence before the case was handed over to CBI. The CID has deleted some of the CCTV footage in the digital video recorder installed at his residence, Hanumanthrayappa claimed.
Facing rising public anger over the death of an upright IAS officer with growing clamour for a CBI probe, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had on Monday announced the government’s decision to handover the case to the central agency, saying it had nothing to hide and was not protecting anyone. Hanumanthrayappa, a local Congress leader, said CID had taken the CCTV footage two days after Ravi’s death and returned it on March 23 and he was surprised to see some portions deleted.
“Two days after Ravi’s death, the CID took away the footage and returned it on March 23. I was shocked to see the footage recorded before 10.30 AM on March 16 was deleted,” Hanumanthrayappa said.
On March 16, the IAS officer was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his Koramangala apartment. Asked to throw light on what could be the vital contents in the deleted footage, Hanumanthrayappa said, “I would be able to tell only after I can get to see the deleted portion.”
However, Hanumanthrayappa said he has heard and read in newspapers that the deleted footage shows Ravi shouting over a telephonic conversation to someone at the other end. Questioning the intentions of CID in deleting the footage, he said, “I want to know why did the CID delete the footage recorded before 10.30 AM on March 16? What is their intention?”
Hanumanthrayappa said he has asked his technician to help him retrieve the deleted footage, which is possible. “My technician is not in town. He is out of Bengaluru and expected in a couple of days. He told me it is possible to retrieve the deleted video footage,” he said.
Asked whether he suspected the intentions of the state government, which allegedly is trying to give a different angle to Ravi’s death, Hanumanthrayappa said, “I do not want to comment on it for now because the investigation is on. However, I would make a comment once I watch the retrieved video footage which was deleted by the CID.”
