Kolar, Karnataka: Locals on Tuesday called for a shutdown in Kolar district of Karnataka, following the death of IAS officer DK Ravi, who took on the sand mafia. Preliminary investigations suggest that DK Ravikumar allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself at his official residence in Bengaluru's posh Koramangla locality. An officer of 2009 batch, the 36-year-old officer was an Additional Commissioner on deputation with the Commercial Tax department.

"Prima facie it appears to be a case of suicide. His body was found hanging from a ceiling fan," Police Commissioner MN Reddi told reporters. He added that it was Ravi's wife who found him hanging tied to a piece of cloth in their apartment.

Police said the offficer's dead body was discovered around lunch time in the flat. Police said they are likely to analyze Ravikumar's mobile records, entry records of his apartment's reception, and CCTV cameras fitted in the vicinity.

State Home Minister KJ George, Energy Minister DK Shiv Kumar, Congress lawmaker from Kolar District KR Ramesh Kumar and a dozen senior tax officials paid condolence visits on the Ravi family on hearing about his death. George said that all angles will be looked into to determine what caused Ravi's death. He also described the death as a great loss to the state of Karnataka.