The body was recovered at Manikwadi between Khanapur and Honde in Belgavi district recently and the assailant who killed the man was not known, Additional Superintendent of Police R K Gadadee told PTI.
Asked if the body bore semblance to one of the sketches of Kalburgi's killers, he said investigation was "in progress" and nothing could be said at the moment.
The state CID is probing the killing, which has led to national outrage with several writers returning their Sahitya Akademi awards over "rising intolerance", citing the murder of Kalburgi as one of the reasons for their action.
Maharashtra police have exchanged data and sketches of suspected murderers of anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar and veteran Communist leader Govind Pansare at Kolhapur in that state.
Karnataka police had also visited Maharashtra to collect vital clues, if any.