mumbai

Updated: May 29, 2018 11:04 IST

A charge sheet filed recently by Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) alleges that the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and its cadre successfully carried out a day’s strike at Reliance Energy, resulting in power supply disruption in suburban Mumbai on December 19, 2017.

The ATS charge sheet names eight persons who are alleged members of CPI (Maoist), a banned outfit regarded as a terrorist organisation by the Centre. These members are accused of infiltrating labour unions in Mumbai’s industrial pockets. The charge sheet claims the Maoists were able to cut off power supply from Reliance Energy to suburban Mumbai in December 2017, but does not provide details of how this was executed.

A Reliance Energy spokesperson told HT, “We are not aware of any linkage of our contractors’ association with Maoist activities. We have provided all information sought by ATS.”

The 5,876-page document charges eight persons, arrested in January, of terror activities under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

According to the chargesheet, the accused pressured members of the prominent energy firm’s labour contractor association, extorted money and used it to fund the outlawed organisation. The police believe Krishna Lingayya Ghoshka alias Ajay Dasari alias Venugopal, 40, was the leader of this contingent.

The ATS believes that this Maoist cadre was working to penetrate the so-called ‘Golden Corridor’, which covers north Maharashtra, South Gujarat (including Surat) and certain areas adjacent to Mumbai. The chargesheet also claims young people were recruited to take up arms and eventually be stationed in Maoist-affected areas.

“The cadre used to frighten contractors at a major energy supply company by saying that Venugopal was a big Maoist leader, and used this means to raise funds,” the ATS states in its chargesheet.

The ATS names Venugopal, Satyanarayan Karrella, Babu Wanguri, Shankarayya Gunde, Ravi Marampelli, Ramesh Golala, Narsayya Jumpala and Saidul Singapanga in the chargesheet. All eight have been in judicial custody since January 2018.