Deceased IAS officer Anurag Tiwari's elder brother Mayank Tiwari's life is under threat in Bengaluru, said retired IAS officer M.N. Vijaykumar on Saturday, while urging the Karnataka government to immediately provide him security. Earlier, Mayank failed to turn up at a press meet he was supposed to address in the city.
M.N.Vijaykumar addressing media in Bengaluru
"Mayank is in an undisclosed location and has switched off his mobile phone as he fears for his life. I could finally speak to him after calling him several times. He told me he was in no position to speak. He would speak to the media about everything at an appropriate time," said Vijaykumar, who also alleged that there were serious lapses in the investigations being carried out by the Special Investigation Team from Uttar Pradesh into the death of Anurag.
Anurag, a 2007 batch Karnataka cadre IAS officer was found dead in mysterious circumstances outside a VIP guest house in Lucknow last month.
"We urge the Centre to handover the case to the CBI as the SIT, under an additional superintendent of police, has botched up investigations. It is not clear if it is intentional or due to ignorance. Anurag's house was not opened or searched. But, the officer had gathered signatures of witnesses including that of a sub-inspector from Karnataka yesterday (Friday), stating the house had been searched and sealed. No videorecording was made too. It was done quietly without the media glare, which raises suspicion. I arrived at the spot and questioned the SIT over the lapses. They simply tore the paper bearing the signatures and burnt it. I also pointed out that crucial details were hidden from the SIT. Anurag's house was sealed only on May 20, three days after the incident, by corporation officials and not the police. Anurag had newly installed CCTVs at his house before leaving for the training, which proves he indeed feared for his life. But his department officials have not disclosed these details or handed over the files to the SIT. The government should handover the CCTV footage to the SIT," demanded Vijaykumar, who was the witness (at Mayank's behest), when the Special Investigation Team visited Anurag's residence on Friday.
Vijaykumar, who was accompanied by his wife for the press meet, warned the honest officers that their silence would prove costly. Why has the government not provided any compensation to Tiwari's family though he died while on duty? He comes from a humble background and instances of him borrowing money from his brother when his salary was withheld for reasons best known to the state government, prove he was non-corrupt and a honest officer," said Vijaykumar.
"We don't want the probe to end as in the case of D.K.Ravi. The chief minister should facilitate a fair probe and provide security and accommodation to Mayan, who is in Bengaluru to assist the SIT in the probe," he added.
Vijaykumar had earlier written to the UP chief secretary to ensure a fair probe while expressing concern over the chances IAS mafia in Karnataka derailing the probe. Vijaykumar, who has suffered three attempts in his life for exposing corrupt senior officers during his tenure, said only the CBI can do justice to this high-profile case involving the powerful lobby.
