It is over to the Centre now with the Bihar government on Thursday writing to the Union Home Ministry and requesting a CBI probe into the death of Sitamarhi PWD executive engineer Yogendra Pandey on June 18.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who holds the Home portfolio, has given his nod to state DGP’s recommendation for a CBI inquiry into the case. The police term the death a suicide even as the second autopsy and forensic sciences reports suggest murder.

The Chief Minister’s Office confirmed that Nitish Kumar has given the go-ahead for a CBI inquiry as was being demanded by the engineers’ association. Over 20,000 engineers, though continuing to stay away from work since June 19, have deferred their decision to go on indefinite strike till July 1.

Bihar Additional DGP Neelmani said: “Though DIG Tirhut Range B Srinivasan has been investigating the matter, he will hand over the investigation to the CBI as and when the agency takes over.” Srinivasan on Wednesday met colleagues of Pandey to understand the “circumstances of death”.

Pandey’s family is contesting the suicide note, saying that the engineer was not given to writing in English and that the writing did not match. Sitamrahi SP Chhatranil Singh, however, said: “Prima facie investigation suggests that the suicide note was written by Pandey. Forensic tests would throw more light on the matter.”

Meanwhile, Bihar Engineering Services Association general secretary Rajeshwar Mishra said, “We met the Home Secretary on Wednesday but are still not sure if the government would meet all our demands. The indefinite strike will come into effect from July 2 if there is any dilly-dallying on the part of the government”.