The Hubballi-Dharwad police have arrested three men in connection with the murder of Congress leader Kumareshwara Pillai.  

The three accused are Sharanabasappa Deginala of Vijayapura, Basavaraja Kanakambi of Afzalpur,  Kalaburagi and Praveen Boothi.    

Police said that Sharanabasappa Deginala is also wanted in connection with the shootout of Bhima River bank history-sheeter Bagappa Harijana.

Deginala is wanted in eight cases, including murder, counterfeiting and kidnapping.  

He is wanted by Maharashtra and Kerala police too, according to Hubballi-Dharwad police commissioner M N Nagaraj.  

Deginala met Santosh Chalawadi and Satish Chalawadi at Ballari jail, Nagaraj said.  

Owing to political rivalry, Santosh Chalawadi and Satish Chalawadi gave Deginala a supari for Rs 30 lakh, he added.    

Sharanabasappa Deginala then gave rowdy Scientist Manjya money and a a country-made pistol and got Kumareshwara Pillai killed, the commissioner said.    

The police have recovered two swords, country-made pistol, mobiles and ATM cards from the accused.