DK Ravi sitting on the floor along with students who were protesting for a cause in Kolar and hearing to their problems. (File Photo)

BENGALURU: A 2009 batch IAS officer who was deputed as the Joint Commissioner, State Commercial Taxes Department, D K Ravikumar was found mysteriously hanging by a fan in the bedroom of his private apartment in Tavarekere in South Bengaluru on Monday.Bengaluru Police Commissioner M N Reddi , while stating that prima facie it appears to be a suicide, said the dog squad and the forensic science team has been employed to rule out any other cause for his death.“As things stand, it appears to be a suicide, and I cannot say anything more as the investigation is still on,” Reddi told press persons outside Ravikumars’ apartment, adding that no death note has been found as of now!Neither the police, nor the family has been able to point their fingers at the exact reason for a probable suicide. Ravi , who is not known to leave office during duty hours is said to have reached his apartment as early as 11 am.However, the news of this death only came to light by 6pm in the evening, after his wife and family’s efforts to reach him through the day were futile and they reached the apartment and used a duplicate key to get in.D K Kusuma, his wife has been inconsolable and Reddi said: “The family has not been in a position to answer our questions and quite naturally. So I will not comment on that at this juncture. But prima facie there is no room for foul play.”“His wife and him stayed in the Tavarekere apartment five days a week and stayed with their relative in Nagarbhavi for two days. On Monday, he had left for office from Nagarbhavi,” a senior official investigating the case said.He said that Ravi had not even eaten his lunch which was sent to him and that’s when his wife and family got suspicious. “They then tried contacting him and upon not being able to reach him, they decided to go to the Tavarekere house,” the officer said, and Reddi added that the police presently have no information about who visited his apartment today.“The forensic team is yet to determine the exact time of death. We will know that in a couple of hours, as of now it could be anywhere between 11am and 6pm,” he said.Ravi, who had become extremely popular as the deputy commissioner of Kolar for his work in ridding encroachments and other “honest” works, was recently transferred to become the joint commissioner of the commercial taxes department .Answering a specific question relating to Ravi’s problems with work and other matters pertaining to his duties, Reddi said: “...No the information that he had met me a while ago is incorrect and at this time we have no information about him having complained to his seniors about any problem.”He, however, said that the investigation will look into all matters. And for this, the police have formed a special team led by DCP South East Rohini Katoch, who is also a (medical) doctor. All senior police officials, Home Minister K J George and City in-charge minister Ramalinga Reddy visited the spot soon after they learnt of the incident.