Bengaluru: In a major breakthrough into MM Kalburgi murder case, the CBI has succeeded in tracking whereabouts of his assailants.

According to sources, the assailant has reportedly taken refuge in Nepal with a hard core Hindu hardliner based there. The CBI team was sent to trace the culprit a month ago and the denouement is much-awaited.

The CBI officials suspect that a group of eight members were involved in all the three murders- MM Kalburgi, Dabolkar and Govind Pansare and all the three were shot dead with a country-made revolver of 7.65 mm, which is suspected to be manufactured near Mehaboobnagar district of Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana state) a den of country made pistols and crude bomb of south India.

A detailed report had been sent to A.V. Singh, CBI investigation officer of the case, on Tuesday, sources said.

The suspected offender is said to be a native of Maharashtra and a frequent visitor to Nepal and Srilanka, sources said.

The CBI special team had interrogated 14 persons so far regarding the case, including a Swamiji (pontiff) of a small Math located near Belagavi city.

Back home, the protest against the lethargic attitude of authorities concerned is hinted to go aggressive in coming days.

Meanwhile, the State government has asked the CBI to submit the report as early as possible. The move came on behest of rising concern over losing “socialist” charm of state government, insiders said.