BENGALURU: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is probing the cold blooded murder of writer and rationalist Dr M.M. Kalburgi on August 30, has intensified the search for the absconding member of extreme right wing outfit ‘Sanathan Sanstha’ - Rudra Patil, who could reportedly be behind the assassination — in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa.
According to official sources, the CID is working closely with the Maharashtra and Goa police and the National Investigation Agency in tracking Patil, who is also allegedly involved in the 2009 Goa blast in which two members of the Sanstha were accidentally killed while transporting the improvised explosive devices.
The Maharashtra police are probing the murder of socialist Govind Pansare in Kolhapur in February this year and had recently arrested Samir Gaikwad, a close friend of Patil and member of the Sanstha, in connection with the murder. “We have intensified our hunt for Rudra Patil. He may be hiding in Maharashtra, Karnataka or Goa. We have sent out teams to various places, where he may have taken shelter,” said an official source. He added that there were some leads in the case but none of them was “convincing” enough to crack the case.
The CID has also interrogated Gaikwad. “Our officials have interrogated Gaikwad, but he has not divulged anything substantial about Patil. He says he doesn’t know about PAtil’s whereabouts. He may not be revealing the truth,” the officer added. Patil and Gaikwad are said to be childhood friends. Mobile phone call records of Gaikwad allegedly indicate that both were in touch before Kalburgi’s assassination.
Besides the hunt for Patil, the State Intelligence agencies are also examining Sanathan Sanstha; its ideology and outreach in Karnataka. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh to those who provide credible information on Dr. Kalburgi’s assassins, leading to their arrest. The septuagenarian scholar was shot dead at point blank in his house in Dharwad.
