Amol Kale, aide knew about murders of four Karnataka, Maharashtra activists: Probe

BENGALURU: Investigations into the murders of thinkers Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare, MM Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh indicated Amol Kale and Amit Degvekar, arrested by the Karnataka Special Investigation Team in the Gauri Lankesh murder case, played a vital role in all the four killings.

Kale and Degvekar are remanded in judicial custody and lodged at Central Prison, Bengaluru. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing the murder of Dabholkar, has approached a Pune court for the custody of a few accused in the Gauri case, establishing a direct link in the murders of Dabholkar and Gauri.

“Degvekar looked after the financial needs of Kale and others, while Kale prepared the roadmap and provided firearms to the shooters,” a source said.

Kale played key role in Gauri killing: SIT

Kale played a big role in the killings of Pansare, Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh, sources in SITs of both states said. “Kale’s senior masterminded Dabholkar’s murder, and Kale monitored the other three,” said a source, adding, “shooters in the four killings had returned the 7.65mm country-made pistol to Kale, who handed them to different persons in Maharashtra, including three men recently arrested.” Sources said Rajesh Bangera, a Kale associate and accused in the Gauri case, too knew of the four murders and had reportedly suggested that the victims be shot in the forehead.