NIA seeks custody of TVV leader Maddileti jailed for Maoist links

Hyderabad: The National Investigation Agency(NIA), which had earlier registered a case against Telangana Vidyarthi Vedika (TVV) president Bandari Maddileti for his alleged links with outlawed CPI (Maoist) party in December 2019, has expedited the investigation process. The agency filed a petition before a court in Gadwal district, seeking ten-day custody of Maddileti, for further investigation into the case.

Bandari Maddileti and Telangana Praja Front state V-P Nalamasi Krishna were arrested in October 2019 by the Gadwal district police, for their alleged Maoist links.

The court posted the hearing on the petition to March 10 and also directed his counsel to file an affidavit. Further, the elite agency is also looking into the alleged role of former Maoist couple Narla Ravi Sharma, and Bellapu Anuradha, for allegedly participating in "revolutionary activities". The couple was arrested by the Rachakonda police in November 2019.

Though the NIA has not officially taken up the investigation into their case, they are verifying their role and connection with Maddileti and also revolutionary writer Varavara Rao. The writer was arrested by Maharashtra police in 2018, in connection with the Bheema-Koregaon violence and the alleged conspiracy to kill Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The NIA has recently taken up the investigation into the case.

Based on the findings from Varavara Rao’s case and a detained inquiry on his role in support of the outlawed organisation, NIA is acting in Maddileti’s case. Based on a case registered at Nallakunta police station of Hyderabad, NIA registered a fresh case against him and started a probe. Since his arrest in October, he was lodged in prison and could not secure a bail.

In the recent past, Telangana police has arrested around 50 people on allegations of working for the banned organisation, which include members of frontal organisations and activists and cases have been registered in different parts of the state. They have been charged with sedition and Prevention of Unlawful Activities act.