Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) may seek the help of Scotland Yard in cracking the murder case of rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar, Activist Govind Pansare and Kannada writer Prof M M Kalburgi.

The move comes in as ballistic reports from forensic laboratories in Mumbai and Bengaluru have been differing in connection to the weapon used in the murders. While the FSL-Bengaluru was of the opinion that different weapons were used in the murders, the FSL-Kalina in Mumbai opined that the weapon used in all the three cases was the same.

“The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSI) in Mumbai and Bengaluru had differed in their reports. We are considering seeking third opinion on the ballistic reports from experts in Scotland Yard. This would take at least two months,” the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday told a division bench of the Bombay High Court headed by Justice R V More and comprising Justice V L Achiliya.

Dr Narendra Dabholkar, 67, rationalist and anti-superstition activist, Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS), was shot dead on June 20, 2013, by two unidentified gunmen near Omkareshwar temple in Pune. Comrade Govind Pansare, 82, a rationalist and leader of Communist Party of India and his wife, Uma were attacked by two motorcycle-borne youths on February 16, 2015, near his home in Kolhapur, and he died four days later on February 20, 2015, at the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. Prof M M Kalburgi, 76, noted scholar and writer, had run-ins with right-wing Hindutva groups over the years, was shot dead on August 30, 2015, by unidentified gunman at the former’s residence in the Kalyan Nagar locality of Dharwad.