CBI sources confirmed the development. They said: “There is nothing unusual about their examination. Our team is probing the case from all possible angles, including murder, abetment to suicide, land deal, mafia links, etc. We also came to know that both the leaders were having a bitter relationship with Ravi because of his anti-corruption drive in the district. Therefore, their version was very important.”
It was learnt that last week both the leaders were asked to be present before the CBI office in Bengaluru. Sources said Muniyappa rubbished the allegations that he had a “personal grudge” with Ravi, who served as the deputy commissioner in Kolar till October 2014.
“The questioning went for a couple of hours and we found some discrepancies in their statements. It is likely that they will be asked to appear before the investigation officers for re-examination on certain issues once again,” CBI sources said.
A CBI official, investigating the case, however, clarified that the questioning was not with an intention that Ravi was murdered. “It is already proved that he had committed suicide. We just wanted to make things clear that what prompted him to take the extreme step,” he said.
Ravi, a 2009-batch Karnataka-cadre IAS officer, was posted in Kolar district from August 2013 to October 2014. During his term, he took several measures against <g data-gr-id="31">sand</g> mafia and emphasised on development. Initially, things were going smooth for Ravi, but later his relations with Muniyappa and Prakash went into rough weather. Some of the witnesses told CBI officers that the leaders often used to prevent Ravi from carrying out his duty.
Ravi’s mysterious death had lead to a major political controversy in the state, which forced the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to hand over the probe to CBI under pressure.