Despite home minister Rajnath Singh speaking to Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and advising that the state opt for a CBI inquiry in the death of IAS officer DK Ravikumar, Karnataka Cabinet has decided not to hand over the death case to the CBI.

Union law minister Sadananda Gowda (who has been Karnataka chief minister) met the home minister about the issue, and called for a CBI probe.

However, ignoring the public anger, state chief minister Siddaramaiah has said no to the CBI probe. The case is currently with the state Criminal Investigation Department. Siddaramaiah said the CID was "perfectly capable" of handling it.

The 36-year-old officer was found hanging at his flat in Bengaluru and the police said that it was a case of suicide.  Ravi, a commercial tax official, was investigating real estate majors and big jewellers for alleged tax evasion.

Meanwhile, an online petition to prime minister Narendra Modi has been signed by 13.5 lakh people, including the state's IAS officers, the lawmakers of opposition BJP and the JDS are on an indefinite dharna at the state assembly.

"There are attempts from some quarters to assassinate the character of the IAS officer," M Madangopal, Additional Chief Secretary (Environment, Forest and Ecology) told a news agency. "We won't allow attempts to kill Ravi for second time."

Ravi was reportedly still getting threats. His father-in-law Hanumantharayappa alleged that Ravi had told him he was "being targeted" by a particular group. Ravi's parents had sat on a dharna on Wednesday and have threatened to commit suicide unless justice was done.