BELAGAVI:The Karnataka Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team probing the murder of rationalist M M Kalburgi suspects that one Rudragouda Patil is the main culprit in the case.
CID Superintendent of Police D C Rajappa also said Patil may have played a role in CPI leader Govindrao Pansare’s killing.
Rajappa along with officials of the Maharashtra Special Investigation Team (SIT) interrogated activist Samir Gaikwad in Kolhapur. Gaikwad, a resident of Sangli, was recently arrested in connection with Pansare’s killing.
It is said Gaikwad is an activist of right-wing organisation Sanatan Sanstha, which is said to have possible links in the murders of Pansare as well as rationalist and author Narenrda Dabholkar of Pune.
CID officials, who grilled Gaikwad for more than two hours, said they have got clues which may help solve the Kalburgi case. The CID also plans to take Gaikwad into custody for further enquiry.
Sources said the conspiracy to murder Pansare was hatched at Sankeshwar near Belagavi. Gaikwad, Patil, another suspect Sarang Dilip Akolkar alias Kulkarni and three women had decided to eliminate Pansare. One of the women is said to be one Jyothi Kamble of Mumbai, who is Samir’s friend.
Absconding
Earlier, it was reported that Patil was from Vijayapur district, but later it was revealed that he hails from Karajanagi in Jatt taluk of Maharashtra. Patil and his family are followers of Sanatan Sanstha. Patil joined the hardline outfit in 2001. Police said he has been absconding since 2009 after the Madgaon blasts and the Goa and Maharashtra police are on the lookout for him.
Police suspect he may have taken shelter in the border areas of Karnataka and Maharashtra.