Pune: Maoist Ideologue Sanjay Deepak Rao Arrested By ATS for Propagating Maoist Ideology In Urban Areas
Pune, 12th July 2024: Sanjay Deepak Rao, aged 60 and a resident near Vasundhara Building, Ambernath, Thane, has been arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) from the custody of Telangana police for propagating Maoist ideology in urban areas across multiple states. The arrest follows a prolonged period during which Rao operated underground using various aliases.
The ATS, represented by Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar, requested permission from the court of Special Judge VR Kachre on Thursday to conduct Rao’s DNA profiling. “Rao has been actively spreading Maoist ideology in Telangana, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra under different identities,” stated Pawar during the court proceedings.
Rao’s association with the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) came to light during investigations into Maoist leader Konath Muralidharan alias Thomas and his accomplice Ismail Hamza CP alias James Mathew’s arrest in May 2015. Both were found propagating Maoist beliefs covertly. Rao was booked in the case and a charge sheet was filed by the ATS on October 14, 2015.
“After evading arrest, Rao continued to operate underground until he was apprehended last year by Telangana police, who recovered a revolver from his possession,” disclosed ATS Assistant Commissioner of Police Subhash Dudhgaonkar. Rao was subsequently brought to Pune and presented before the special judge at District Court in Shivajinagar.
Opposing the ATS’s request for Rao’s DNA profiling, his lawyers Adv. Rohan Nahar and Adv. Partha Shah argued against it.
The court scheduled a hearing on the ATS application for July 15, while ordering Rao to remain in judicial custody pending further proceedings.
