Mumbai, Sep 19 (IANS): Rationalist Narendra Dabholkar's killing Aug 20 could be "state-sponsored", Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray said here Thursday.

"Since there is no breakthrough in the murder case, the needle of suspicion is pointing towards the state government. There is growing suspicion whether it was a state-sponsored murder," Thackeray said after meeting the late activist's daughter Mukta Dabholkar at his residence.

Dabholkar was fatally shot from a close range when he was out on a morning walk near his residence in Pune.

Barring releasing sketches of a couple of suspects and questioning dozens of people, the police have not reported any significant breakthrough in the investigations.

On the demands for CBI probe, Thackeray said that it has become fashionable to transfer cases to the CBI, even though the local police is efficient.

"Then what is the need for the local police," he questioned, releasing a booklet on the new Anti-Superstition & Black Magic Bill of Maharashtra.

He argued that if the state government had cleared the anti-superstitions bill earlier, Dabholkar's killing could have been prevented.

In view of the public outcry a few days after Dabholkar's killing, the state government approved the new draft bill and issued an ordinance to this effect.