Most crime reporters will testify that they have to chase police for information every time a big story breaks. But, following the controversial death of Karnataka IAS officer DK Ravi, some Bengaluru police officials have been chasing journalists to pass on conspiracy theories.
Authorities say Ravi, who was found hanging in his south Bengaluru flat this week, seems to have committed suicide, but his family and the Opposition have demanded a central probe as the officer reportedly received death threats after taking on the real estate lobby.
HT spoke to several reporters from newspapers and TV channels. While some were sceptical of the theories floated by police, others appeared completely convinced. However, most agreed that some officers were unusually enthusiastic to speak with them- off the record only.
This reporter, for instance, was contacted on two separate occasions by two different police officers with information on Ravi’s personal life.
This was the first time these policemen had made such an effort to reach out and have, in fact, always been tough to track down. What’s more, both had different theories on why this was a suicide.
“I was reporting live on the night of the death and one senior police officer kept calling me repeatedly,” said a female journalist from a top Kannada news channel. “When I picked up the phone, she gave me a long story about Ravi’s personal life. I immediately broke the story, but I still found it strange that such a senior officer would call me.”
Several reporters also said that many junior police officers, even constables, were calling them with information on the case.
A Kannada print journalist, who reported that Ravi’s phone records and text messages showed he was unhappy with his personal life, said the tip-off came from a sub-inspector.
Asked if he was shown the messages or call records, the reporter replied in the negative.
One story that ran briefly on some TV channels the night the body was discovered said police found a suicide note in which Ravi attributed his death to personal reasons.
Under pressure from the Opposition and public, both the home minister and police commissioner clarified that no such letter was found.
“Could this be because of the lapses in their (police) investigation?” asked Ravi’s father-in-law, echoing questions raised by BJP leader and former minister CT Ravi on the floor of the House. “Proper procedure was not followed immediately after the body was found. There was no independent witness. Why did the police commissioner tell the media that this was a suicide minutes after he visited the spot?”
Additional chief secretary Madan Gopal, who led a group of IAS officers and signed an online petition to the Prime Minister, seeking a CBI invquiry, also said the police behaviour was “suspicious”.
“I do not doubt the integrity of Karnataka police, which is one of the best in the country. But I find that there is a systematic effort to leak and plant information. Two things: why can’t they make these disclosures on record and why can’t they share the full story? Why are they leaking bits and pieces?” he asked.
