For the first time the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has uploaded the photograph of top Maoist leader Ganapati alias Muppala Lakshmana Rao on its official website as one of the most wanted criminals.
According to NIA, police registered an FIR No. 138/2012 dated March 1, 2012 at Jorasanko police station in Kolkata in West Bengal. Later, the case was transferred to the NIA for further investigation. Accordingly, the case was re-registered at the NIA police station in New Delhi as RC No.01/2012 on April 12, 2012.
The allegations against Ganapati are: He, as a member of the banned organisation CPI(Maoist), is waging a war against the central government. In furtherance of this, Ganapati and other Maoists collected explosive substances, prohibited ammunition and a huge amount of money. A charge sheet was filed in the NIA Special Court, Kolkata on August 23, 2012 against five persons including Ganapati under Sections 120B (Punishment of criminal conspiracy), 121 (Waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against the government of India), 419 (Punishment for cheating by personation), 467 (Forgery of valuable security) of IPC, Sections 25 (1)(a), 25(1A), 25(1AA) and 25(1B)(a) of Arms Act, Sec 5 of Explosive Substance Act.
Proclamation requiring him to appear before the Special NIA, Court, Kolkata issued on Feb 13, 2013.