As Sonia Gandhi’s second prodding came to public, the Karnataka government on Monday announced a CBI inquiry into the death of IAS officer DK Ravi, who was found hanging at his Bengaluru residence.

Last week, Sonia had sent a message to Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on CBI investigation and this week she wrote a letter to Ravi's wife and assured her of a fair investigation into the death of her husband.  The police have said it is "prima facie a case of suicide," a theory not subscribed by his family and friends. The case has stirred strong public sentiments, as Ravi had taken on the sand and land mafia and tax evaders.

The Karnataka High Court had on Sunday restrained the state government from publishing any interim report of the CID, which was investigating the case so far, into it. The court order came at a special hearing at the residence of Justice Abdul Nazeer. The court acted on a petition by the husband of an IAS officer who knew DK Ravi and was the last to have been in touch with him, according to media reports. The woman has reportedly shared information with the state's Criminal Investigation Department, which is inquiring into the case.

Meanwhile, the opposition BJP had on Sunday held a day-long dharna that was attended by former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, Union Minister Ananth Kumar, state president Prahlad Joshi, opposition leader Jagdish Shettar and others.  "We will not allow the government to submit the interim report because that is a deliberate attempt at misleading investigations," Yeddyurappa said.

People from different walks of life in the city also staged a separate protest demanding justice for Ravi that turned out be purely a public event with no political tag. Protests were also held by various organisations in Tumakuru and Kolar, where he had become very popular as Deputy Commissioner.