New Delhi, June 18 (Agency) In a major action related to a case involving attempts to revive CPI (Maoist) in the Magadh Zone, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday seized Rs 1,13,70,500, as proceeds of terrorism, extorted from contractors and others in Bihar and Jharkhand by the ultras. The money was being used to finance the medical studies of a relative of some of the accused. The money has been seized under section 25(1) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in the case registered suo moto by NIA on December 30, 2021, the Agency said in a statement.
NIA investigation has revealed that the amount had been directly transferred to the bank account of a medical college in Chennai, Tamil Nadu for the medical education of a relative of a senior Maoist leader. The transfer was done through bank accounts of close relatives of the accused, under the garb of a loan. The beneficiary of the funds extorted by the CPI Maoist is the niece of Pradyuman Sharma, the banned outfit’s Special Area Committee member, who has been named in a chargesheet. The beneficiary is also the sister of arrested chargesheeted accused Tarun Kumar, and cousin of arrested chargesheeted accused Abhinav @ Gaurav @ Bittu. NIA had, on January 20, 2023, filed a chargesheet before its Special Court, Ranchi, against two accused under various sections of IPC and UA (P) Act. In June last year, it had filed its 1st supplementary chargesheet in the case against one more accused, followed by a 2nd supplementary chargesheet against two others in December 2023.