Saibaba was in touch with Nepali Maoist Basanta: NIA

MUMBAI: Former Delhi University Professor G.N. Saibaba was in touch with Indra Mohan Sigdel aka Comrade Basanta, the main leader of the United Communist Party of Nepal. Arrested accused VaravaraRao was assigned to deal with him for procuring arms and ammunition, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) claimed in its charge sheet in the BhimaKoregaon Elgar Parishad case.

In the 10,000 page charge sheet filed by the agency in a Special NIA court in Mumbai on October 9, which has been viewed by IANS, the anti-terror probe agency alleged that in the digital data analysis of Saibaba's electronic equipment, an incriminating document was found mentioning about Sigdel aka Comrade Basanta.

"One of the co-conspirators of the case Rona Wilson mentions about Basanta and states that Comrade VaravaraRao is the authority to deal with him for the procurement of arms and ammunitions viz. M4's and 4,00,000 rounds for approximately Rs 8 crore with the possible help from Manipur Maoists," the NIA claimed in its charge sheet.

The NIA in its charge sheet claimed that digital data seized from Saibaba contains a photograph of Wilson's visit to the AbujMaad forest area along with another co-accused RitupanGoswamy aka Prakash, which shows their forest visit as well as their association which was confirmed by other evidence which came to the fore during investigation.

The NIA in its charge sheet also alleged that the Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF), Indian Association of Peoples Lawyer (IAPL), AnuradhaGhandy Memorial Committee (AGMC), Kabir Kala Manch (KKM), Persecuted Prisoners Solidarity Committee (PPSC), Committee for Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP), Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights (CPDR), Peoples Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) and several others were the frontal organisations for the CPI (Maoist).

Citing the role of former IIT professor AnandTeltumbde, the NIA alleged that he was the General Secretary of the CPDR and a member of AGMC.

AnandTeltumbde was arrested on April 14 this year by the NIA.

The NIA claimed that AnandTeltumbde was one of the convenors of the Elgar Parishad and BhimaKoregaonShauryadinPrernaAbhiyanprogramme and was present at the Shaniwar Wada in Pune on December 31, 2017.

It alleged, "AnandTeltumbde in order to attend the Elgar Parishadprogramme, travelled from Goa to Pune on December 30, 2017 and was present at the Shaniwar Wada in Pune on December 31."

The NIA claimed that AnandTeltumbde, in order to further the activities of the CPI (Maoist) at the international level, used to attend international conferences under the guise of his academic visits to Canada, Pakistan, US, France etc.

"In the said conferences, he used to exchange literature on ideology, training and working strategy of CPI (Maoist) with international communist organisations," it said.

The NIA also alleged that AnandTeltumbde in his capacity as General Secretary CPDR, made efforts for the release of Murugan, a CPI (Maoist) leader, who was lodged in a jail in Tamil Nadu as well as for the release of Saibaba.

The NIA also claimed that AnandTeltumbde, who was associated with the Goa Institute of Management in Goa, was also instrumental in organising fact-finding committee missions on the directions of the CPI (Maoist).

An NIA official linked to the probe told IANS, during investigation it was revealed that AnandTeltumbde's role in connection with BhimaKoregaon was appreciated by the Central Committee of the CPI (Maoist) and there is evidence on record that a direction was given to him to keep the "fire ablaze".

"In one of the communications on January 2, 2018, absconding accused MilindTeltumbde (Anand's brother) appreciated the BhimaKoregaon agitation being very effective and also directed Wilson to exploit the death of youth and to prepare future agitations and propaganda," the NIA claimed in its charge sheet.

"AnandTeltumbde used to attend international conferences under the guise of his academic visits abroad viz Philippines, Peru, Turkey, and other countries and used to bring Maoist literature and videos (in pen drive/memory cards) related to their ideology, tactics, weapons used by them, period of attacks, planning of sudden attacks in spite of routine Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign during Naxal weeks, extension of zones and increasing members of recruitment for CPI (Maoist) organisation," the NIA claimed.

Citing statements of witnesses, the NIA claimed that MilindTeltumbde visited various cities, including Pune, Chandrapur, Bhopal and Indore, and would meet AnandTeltumbde for taking guidance to advance the movement of the CPI (Maoist) in the jungles as well as urban areas.

Besides AnandTeltumbde, the NIA filed the supplementary charge sheet in a special NIA court in Mumbai against seven accused — GautamNavlakha, HanyBabu, SagarGorkhe, Ramesh Gaichor, JyotiJagtap, MilindTeltumbde and Stan Swamy — under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). (IANS)

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