A local court has extended the custody of Kerala-born Murali Kannampilly, a top leader of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), and his aide, Ismail Hamza, for another week following arguments put forth by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
Special Judge D.M. Deshmukh, who has additional charge of the ATS court, extended custody till May 21.The duo was nabbed by the ATS and the Pune police from Talegaon Dabhade outside Pune city on May 8. The ATS claimed it needed the extension to probe the duo’s financial backers and secure information about their aides.
According to the prosecution’s claim, the 62-year-old Kannampilly, known as Ajith, brought out the online edition of the banned magazine People’s March from his refuge in Talegaon Dabhade which propagated Maoist ideology.
The magazine, which informs about the Maoist revolutionary movement in India, first appeared in print and online in 1999.