Bangalore: Apparently bowing to public pressure, the Karnataka government on Monday decided to hand over the probe in to the murder of renowned scholar MM Kalburgi to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).


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“Karnataka government will write a letter to CBI for investigation in renowned scholar MM Kalburgi's murder,” Karnataka Law Minister TB Jayachandra said.


The case is currently being probed by Karnataka Police CID.


A former Vice-Chancellor of Hampi University, MM Kalburgi was shot dead at his Kalyanagar residence in Dharwad on Sunday morning by unidentified gunmen.


77-year-old Kalburgi was an associate of rationalist Govind Pansare of Kolhapur in Maharashtra, who also fell victim in similar circumstances in February, and had drawn the ire of some right-wing Hindu outfits like VHP and Bajrang Dal with his remarks about idol worship by Hindus.


A winner of central and state "Sahitya Akademi" awards, he had also suggested the need for a better state anthem.


Part of his works on "Vachana"(verses)" literature had also come under criticism of the state's majority "veerashaiva" (Lingayat) community, a liberal Shaivism founded by 12th century philosopher, poet and social reformer Basaveshwara.


His funeral is currently under way at Dharwad.