Kalburgi murder case: Officer’s fling behind murder?

Hubballi: The question on many lips here is -- did his personal enmity with a woman officer of the Kannada cultural department cost scholar and rationalist Dr M. M. Kalburgi his life?  The CID sleuths, who are probing the murder of the writer by visiting Belagavi, are looking into this angle. The probe team has interrogated the woman officer and a Kannada activist.

A telephonic conversation between a reporter and the deceased scholar was also being circulated to the media on Friday. Dr Kalburgi had expressed his displeasure while speaking to the scribe about the lady’s illicit relationship with the Kannada activist in the office of the department, which he felt was bringing disrepute to the trust. Dr Kalburgi had tendered his resignation as president of the trust due to these developments.

Dr Kalburgi had served as chairman of the Basavaraj Kattimani Trust, which was formed to promote cultural and literary works in the name of a Kannada novelist. The Belagavi assistant director of Kannada and Culture department Vidyavati Bhajantri has been serving as its member-secretary. The office of the trust is housed in the premises of the department in Belagavi as the Kannada novelist hails from the city.

The slain researcher was disappointed with the illicit activity going on in the office and also warned the woman officer against such developments. Later, he recommended the transfer of the officer last year when her illicit relationship continued. Though the officer was transferred to Madikeri last month, she managed to get a stay on the government order by approaching the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal.

Meanwhile, the president of Karnataka Yuva Vedike Ananthkumar  Byakod, who has been closely associated with the woman officer, had reportedly  threatened the rationalist for attempting  to transfer the officer. Dr Kalburgi had also expressed anguish over Byakod’s efforts to shift the office of the trust from the premises of the department by pressurizing the deputy commissioner in Belagavi to take action against the scholar.

“Dr Kalburgi had expressed strong displeasure over illicit activities in the office of the Kannada and Culture department in Belagavi. He had tendered his resignation because he felt these activities had spoiled the reputation of the trust. His move to get the woman officer transferred must have angered a leader of an organization who reportedly posed a threat to Dr Kalburgi”, a member of the trust said on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, CID officials have continued their interrogation of several people in Dharwad. They have gone to various localities to get a breakthrough. The CID have also been questioning several people in the border town in a determined effort to nab the assailants.