Tumakuru: The public gheraoed District Incharge Minister T.B. Jayachandra and former chief minister Jagadish Shettar when they entered Huliyurdurga to reach deceased IAS officer D.K. Ravi’s home town Dodda Koplu in Kunigal taluk. They demanded a CBI enquiry into the mysterious death of the officer.

The angry mob removed a cutout of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at Hosakote Circle near Kunigal. The town observed an undeclared bandh and buses and autorickshaws remained off the road.

Angry villagers at Dodda Koplu alleged that Mr Siddaramaiah failed to protect the officer, who had done an excellent job. Thousands of people gathered at the village to pay their last respects. The body, which was stopped at several places on its way from Bengaluru, had not arrived at the village even at 7.45 pm.

The state government handed over the probe to the Criminal Investigation Department. A police special team, which was probing the case till Tuesday afternoon, was looking into other possibilities, besides family dispute, that led him to take the extreme step. As Mr Ravi headed raids on top real estate firms, there is speculation that he took the hasty step, unable to bear pressure and threats from builders.

“We were probing into all angles and were going through documents related to his recent work. Nothing much emerged on that angle. Some of his friends told us that Ravi was not the one who would commit suicide because of threats. As the case is being handed over to the CID, we will share the information we have, though they will start the probe afresh,” said a senior police officer.

Another theory that the police were looking into was the officer’s raid on a real estate firm, in which a prominent state minister has stakes, and whether the minister had pressured the officer. It is also said that Mr Ravi was under tremendous pressure over the last few days, but the reason behind it remained unclear. Unconfirmed reports also suggested that the officer could have been ‘honey-trapped’ and blackmailed by some vested interests. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated on the floor of the House that the government transferred Mr Ravi from Kolar to Bengaluru on the request of Mr. Ravi’s father-in-law, who is into real estate business.