CBI to probe IAS officer’s death

The state government on Monday recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the mysterious death of Karnataka cadre IAS officer Anurag Tiwari.

The order came six hours after family members of Tiwari met chief minister Yogi Adityanath. They suspected foul play in the death of the officer and demanded a CBI probe.

Addressing a press conference here, principal secretary, Home, Arvind Kumar said, “The state government has considered the demand of the family members of Anurag Tiwari and recommended a CBI probe into his death.”

Earlier, the family members of the officer, settled in Bahraich, had shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a CBI probe into the officer’s death. A 2007 batch IAS officer, Anurag was found dead under mysterious circumstances on the roadside, near the state guest house, in Hazratganj area on May 17 morning.

Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar had constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to inquire into the death but it failed to crack the case.

Mayank Tiwari, brother of Anurag, said, “My brother had exposed a major scam in the food and civil supplies department in Karnataka. There was pressure on him to withdraw his report. Several top leaders and bureaucrats would have been nailed had the report been made public. He had told us about the pressure tactics being adopted by the people in power and about his harassment.”

Mother of the deceased officer Sushila Devi said, “I have written a letter to the Prime Minister and chief minister demanding justice for my son. Anurag was an honest officer. The killers must be arrested.”

Earlier on Monday, the police registered a case of murder of Anurag. SSP Deepak Kumar ordered registration of FIR after the family members of deceased filed a complaint at the Hazratganj police station.