BENGALURU: The state government is rethinking its decision to hand over investigation into the murder of scholar M M Kalburgi to the CBI.
Disclosing this to reporters here on Tuesday, Home Minister K J George said the government is reconsidering its decision following an appeal from Megha Pansare and others of the Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti in Maharashtra, who had met Kalburgi’s family members recently.
Megha had suggested that a probe by the state police would be ideal in this case, considering the “not-so-encouraging progress” in the CBI probe into the murder of rationalists Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare. Megha is the daughter-in-law of rationalist Govind Pansare, who was also killed.
They expressed confidence in the ongoing probe by the CID. It is now left to the discretion of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to either go with a CBI probe or continue with the CID probe, he added. When asked about Megha’s allegation that the CID is looking at several angles instead of focusing on solving the case, George said the government has given a free hand to the CID. It was not right to reveal anything in the middle of the investigation, he added.
Judging by the manner in which the murder was executed, it appears to be the work of professional criminals. The CID cannot arrest anybody in a hurry without strong evidence just to show progress in the investigation, George said.
Goonda Act Against Moral Policing: George said weak existing laws were hindering the government from taking strict action against moral policing in the state, especially in the coastal region. The government has instructed the police to invoke the Goonda Act against those who indulge in such activities, he said.
Sections of the IPC pertaining to moral policing is not adequate and the state is not empowered to bring amendments to the Act, George said. However, he said antecedents of those arrested would be checked as the Goonda Act can be invoked against them if they are found to be habitual offenders, he said.
The government has “zero tolerance” to moral policing and it will make every effort to end this menace, he said.