Dharwad, Sep 7 (DHNS): The Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is probing into the killing of M M Kalburgi, has ruled out property dispute as the motive for the grisly murder.

Initially, the CID suspected the outspoken Kannada writer was gunned down for a property dispute. A team of investigators went to his native place in Sindagi taluk of Vijayapura district to talk to his close relatives, friends and other villagers. But talking to them, the team has concluded that there was no property dispute behind the murder, highly placed sources in the CID said.

Investigators now believe Kalburgi’s controversial views on religion had led to the killing. Accordingly, they are questioning some writers who were close to the slain professor, besides compiling details of his public speeches and their audio recordings. Sleuths are also visiting the residence of Kalburgi at Kalyan Nagar locality here every day and talking to his family.

Kalburgi’s son Srivijay confirmed that sleuths had spoken to the family and obtained information. “We are co-operating with them so that the coward who shot down my father is nabbed.” He hoped the CID would get a breakthrough soon.

The CID, however, hasn’t stopped exploring other possible several angles in the murder. It has summoned 18 people for questioning, said highly placed sources. The Hubballi-Dharwad police are tight-lipped about the investigation, saying disclosing information may help the killers.

Joint probe

Meghana Pansare, the daughter in-law of slain communist leader Govind Pansare, met Kalburgi’s family on Sunday and offered her condolence. She told reporters that since Pansare, Kalburgi, and rationalist Narendra Dabholkar — who all fought against superstition — were killed in a similar manner, the three murders must be investigated under the supervision of the High Court. She said the Kolhapur police weren’t revealing anything about the progress in the murder case of her father-in-law. Dabholkar was killed in 2013 and Pansare in February 2015.