Orissa police to interrogate Kobad Ghandy

The Orissa police has got a nod from a Delhi court to interrogate top Maoist leader Kobad Ghandy in connection with cases of Naxal violence including those relating to killing of police personnel.

A team of officers of the crime branch, Central Investigation Department and the civil police are going to quiz Ghandy at Tihar jail in New Delhi regarding cases registered in district Nayagarh and Cuttack, sources said.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kaveri Baweja had on Wednesday allowed an application of the Orissa police seeking a direction to the Tihar Jail superintendent to allow them to interrogate the accused.

They specified four cases including one relating to the killing of over 10 policemen allegedly by the Naxals in February 2008, in which Ghandy was also wanted.

The Delhi police, which arrested Ghandy, 63, from a place here on September 20, have been given time till tomorrow by the court to file their charge sheet against him.

The West Bengal police had on January 19 interrogated Ghandy here after obtaining permission from the court in connection with a criminal case registered at West Midnapore district in 2008.

Ghandy had earlier been interrogated by the Andhra Pradesh police for his alleged involvement in a case registered under the Explosive Substances Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in Karimnagar district in 2008.

Ghandy, an ideologue of the banned group, has been booked for various charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after his arrest on September 20.

An alumnus of the prestigious Doon School, Ghandy was said to be in the top echelons of erstwhile Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist (People's War Group) from 1981 and continued as a central committee member in the CPI-Maoist. He was elected to its politburo in 2007.