Bengaluru: Karnataka on Monday decided to ask the CBI to investigate the heinous murder of renowned Kannada rationalist-scholar M.M. Kalburgi at Dharwad on Sunday and expose elements behind the attack.

"We have decided to refer the case to the CBI as the heinous act seems to be a handiwork of fringe elements with inter-state ramifications," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters here after the cabinet recommended handing over the probe to the premier investigation agency.