New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) The probe into the killings of Maoist leader Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad and freelance journalist Hem Chandra Pandey in an alleged shootout in July last year will be handed over to the CBI, Andhra Pradesh told the Supreme Court Monday.
The apex court bench of Justice Aftab Alam and Justice R.M. Lodha was told that the necessary notification about the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe would be issued by Thursday.
 
 This was conveyed to the court by senior counsel for the Andhra Pradesh government, Harish Salve.
 
 The court in its brief order posted the matter for April 25, asking the state government to issue the notification by then.
 
 The court appreciated the stand taken by the state government. The state along with the centre had earlier opposed even a judicial inquiry into the killings.
 
 Bineeta Pandey - the widow of Hem Chandra Pandey - and social activist Swami Agnivesh had petitioned the court.