NIA chargesheets three in Chhattisgarh Naxal terror funding case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against three members of a CPI (Maoist) frontal organisation in connection with a Chhattisgarh case involving the collection and disbursal of Naxal terror funds, officials said on Tuesday.

The accused — Gajendra Madvi, Laxman Kunjam and Raghu Midiyami — were office-bearers of the banned outfit Moolwasi Bachao Manch (MBM), which the Chhattisgarh Government outlawed under the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, 2005, in October 2024. All three have already been arrested.

The case stems from the recovery of Rs 6 lakh in Bijapur district from two MBM members, Gajendra Madvi and Laxman Kunjam. “The duo were on their way to deposit the amount in different bank accounts on the instructions of CPI (Maoist) leaders,” an official said.

Originally registered by Bijapur Police in March 2023, the case was taken over by the NIA in February 2024.

Investigations revealed that Raghu Midiyami, president of MBM’s Bastar division, was responsible for collecting, storing and distributing illegal funds for CPI (Maoist) through MBM and similar fronts.

“These funds were used to advance CPI (Maoist) activities, including organising protests against new security camps and blocking state-led development work in interior areas,” said the official.

The probe further established that CPI (Maoist) channelized funds through MBM and entrusted Midiyami with overseeing their local distribution. Further probe is on, the official added.