Chennai, July 6: Tamil Nadu police are close to arresting Lieutenant Colonel Ajay Singh Bharwal, the main suspect in the murder of 13-year-old Dilshan who was shot down after he slipped into an army residential complex on Sunday.

Bharwal was summoned to Crime Branch-CID office today and questioned for over five hours along with another officer who reportedly witnessed the incident.

A senior crime branch officer suggested Bharwal’s refusal to confess and the formalities linked to booking an army officer were holding back his arrest.

“Since it involves the army, we cannot make an arrest immediately and have written to the GoC (General-officer Commanding) to smoothen the process. A confession would have implicated him completely but the army officer refused to do that,” the senior police officer said.

The army duo questioned today admitted to their presence on Sunday afternoon but were evasive in their replies to who actually shot Dilshan, the officer said.

The CID team is waiting for the ballistic report on the bullet that killed the teenager, after which it would inspect the firearms of Bharwal to see if they match.

The Lieutenant Colonel’s name came up after the interrogation of a sentry who was initially reluctant to speak fearing his superiors but did so after assurances from the local army bosses that he wouldn’t be harmed.

Sources said the crime branch had also summoned the sentry and members of three families who live in the quarters near the spot where Dilshan was shot. The teenager had sneaked into the complex, just behind the Assembly and secretariat in Fort St George, to pluck fruits.

Chief minister Jayalalithaa, in Delhi for a Planning Commission meeting, repeated her demand for the “person responsible for the unpardonable act” to be handed over. “It is quite clear that someone from within the army enclave shot at the boy,” she said.

Army chief General V.K. Singh, however, stressed that “the whole army cannot be held responsible”. “We favour taking strong action, whether an officer or a soldier is involved,” he said. The National Human Rights Commission has sought reports on the incident.