Hubbali: The Karnataka government on Monday decided to hand over to CBI the probe into the murder of noted Kannada progressive thinker and scholar M.M. Kalburgi while his body was laid to rest with full state honours.
The state Cabinet took the decision to refer the case to the central agency, a day after the 77-year-old vocal and outspoken rationalist fell to the bullets of two unidentified men at his residence at Dharwad in north Karnataka, considered the state’s cultural capital.
“We have decided to hand over the case to CID, and also to refer it to CBI,” law and parliamentary affairs minister T.B. Jayachandra said. A pall of gloom descended on literary circles on Monday as thousands of people converged for a last glimpse of the academician. A sea of humanity bid adieu to Dr Kalburgi.
His mortal remains were taken in a silent procession from the Karnataka College grounds to the University after performing all the rituals at his residence in Kalyan Nagar.
A number of schools and colleges were closed voluntarily out of respect for the scholar, even though the district administration had not declared a holiday. Members of various Lingayat organizations and Basava Sene, who had arrived from neighboring districts, formed a human chain and tied black cloths in condemnation.
