Former People’s War leader and Bharat Bachao national general secretary Gade Innaiah was produced before a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court at Nampally in Hyderabad on Monday, December 22, in connection with a Maoist propaganda case. The 65-year-old was arrested a day earlier from Jafferabad in Warangal district, with the NIA alleging that his speeches posed a threat to India’s sovereignty and promoted the banned CPI (Maoist) organisation.

According to the NIA, the case relates to a condolence meeting held on October 18 in Warangal for Maoist leader Ramachandra Reddy alias Vikalp, a central committee member of the CPI (Maoist), who was killed in an alleged encounter with security forces. The agency claimed that Innaiah described the killing as a “fake encounter” and alleged torture by security forces, remarks which it said were intended to incite public support for the Maoist outfit and undermine the unity and integrity of the nation. The probe was initiated on the directions of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, with the NIA also alleging that Innaiah provided financial and logistical support to Maoists and maintained links with accused persons in other cases.

Meanwhile, civil rights groups have strongly criticised the arrest. The Civil Liberties Committee (CLC) termed the action unconstitutional and accused authorities of misusing the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to suppress dissent by branding activists as “urban Naxals”. Addressing a press conference in Hyderabad, CLC leaders demanded Innaiah’s immediate release and called for an independent inquiry into the killing of Vikalp, alleging a systematic crackdown on people’s organisations.