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Arrested Maoist leader to undergo DNA test
PUNE: Murali Kannambally (62), senior leader of the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit, who was arrested on May 8 by the anti-terrorism squad (ATS), Pune, will undergo a DNA test as part of the ongoing probe that includes fixing his identity in view of the several fake identities he used prior to his arrest. On Thursday, the court of special judge S V Mane extended the remand of Murali and his aide, Ismail Hamja CP, in ATS custody till May 25 to facilitate the probe, additional public prosecutor Vikas Shah said. “The DNA test on Murali is one of the grounds the ATS has mentioned in its report for extension of remand of the two accused,” Shah said. The ATS suspects, among other things, that Murali was involved in spreading and promoting ideology of the banned Maoist outfit and associated anti-national activities of the organization.
The ATS had seized several incriminating material including banned Maoist or Naxal literature, laptop, CPU, printer, hard disk, mobile phone handsets, sim cards, internet dongles, forged Aadhaar and PAN cards along with Rs 54,000 in cash. In a four-page remand report submitted by assistant commissioner of police Bhanupratap Barge, the ATS has mentioned that they needed to arrest Sanjay Deepak Rao of Ambernath in Thane district, who provided support and place of hiding to the two accused, and also needed to corroborate certain confidential information relating to Murali which the ATS squad had secured from Kerala where he was active. Also, two other persons are being interrogated in connection with the sim cards seized from the duo and the ATS was also investigating people who provided financial and other support to the duo.

Of the total 10 sim cards seized from the duo, five cards were secured from Maharashtra and the rest were from other states. Murali was also in touch with top Maoist leader Ganapathy, the ATS report stated. Following their arrest, the court had initially remanded them in ATS custody till May 15 and the same was extended till May 21. “The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act provides for custody remand up to total 30 days,” said Shah.