Bengaluru: At the on going hearing in Karnataka’s High Court, the state government on Tuesday informed the high court that in the changed circumstances after handing over the probe to CBI, there is no question of submitting any interim report or making any publication regarding the probe into the death of IAS officer DK Ravi.

The hearing is pursuance of a petition filed by Sudhir Reddy, husband of the woman IAS officer who was Ravi’s batchmate.  The petition is being heard by justice S Abdul Nazeer.

This was clearly stated by Additional Advocate General (AAG) A S Ponnanna.

The judge then sought response from the petitioner so as to dispose of the petition as the government and the investigating agency CID have become ‘functus officio’ (no further official authority or legal efficacy). The counsel for the petitioner sought time and the case was adjourned to Thursday.

The judged told the petitioner’s advocate that he was free to take recourse as per legal provisions available in regard to any damage incurred due to the allegations.

Earlier, the petitioner’s advocate Sajan Poovayya argued that his client filed the plea to “’ring-fence himself’ and protect the fundamental rights of his family”.

Leakage of confidential material

Poovavya,  earlier told the court “the state cannot teach morality in a man-woman relationship. The statement was unnecessary and insensitive” 

He was referring to the government’s statement regarding the relationship between the deceased officer and his batchmate. The state had claimed that the relationship between the two was more than cordial.

The advocate, also wondered as to how the voluntary statement given by her a confidential matter was leaked.

Poovayya said the media filed reports on the basis of quotes from anonymous CID officers, the chief minister and the home minister, but no action has been taken against it.  Poovayya placed before the court several judgments which barred the investigating officer from disclosing any information pending investigation.
He said as a the petitioner had sued the media.

Contempt plea withdrawn

Meanwhile a  contempt petition filed by Sudhir Reddy, in which the state, the CID and editors/publishers of two newspapers were made parties, was withdrawn citing that the officials were not named in person.

A division bench headed by justice N Kumar allowed withdrawal of  the petition while reserving the right of  the petitioner to file another proper one.

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