​The Karnataka government on Monday decided to hand over M M Kalburgi murder case probe to Central Bureau of Investigation.

The state government government took the decision a day after the noted Kannada writer and outspoken rationalist was shot by two unidentified gunmen at his residence at Dharwad in north Karnataka.

His well-known and documented rationalist thought and opposition to obscurantist beliefs had reportedly angered right-wingers.  

TB Jayachandra, the State Law minister said the CBI will decide whether it's a case worth probing and will also consult the Union home ministry before commencing the investigation. "So we decide that until such time, the CID will investigate the matter" he told the Times of India.

The Times of India quoted the State Law minister saying "Police have got some vital clues. It's a matter of time before the case is solved".
According to the ToI report, sources said police are investigating the case from three angles- role of religious extremists, family rivalry and property dispute.

The 77-year old writer was an associate of rationalist Govind Pansare who was killed last year.

Karnataka police has arrested a 25-yer old right wing Bajrang 5al activist Bhuvith Shetty, who tweeted that K S Bhagwan would be the next target. He had deleted his handle after social media outrage against the death threat.