Maoist leader Kobad Ghandy brought before Andhra court

Hyderabad, Nov 20 : Top Maoist leader Kobad Ghandy, who was arrested in New Delhi two months ago, was Friday brought to a court in Karimnagar town of Andhra Pradesh in the case of the murder of former Assembly Speaker D. Sripada Rao.

The London-educated top leader of the proscribed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) was brought to Ramagundam railway station amid tight security by Kerala Express. He was then taken to Karimnagar town by road and taken to the court. After the court posted the next hearing for Nov 23, he was shifted to Charlapally central prison near Hyderabad.

Sripada Rao was gunned down by Naxalites in April 1999 and Ghandy is facing charge of conspiracy in the crime.

A Delhi court had Wednesday allowed the plea of Karimnagar police to take Ghandy in remand to interrogate him.

The Maoist leader is also facing a conspiracy case in Visakhapatnam district but for now only Karimnagar police had sought his custody.

The 63-year-old Ghandy, a member of CPI-Maoist politbureau and central committee, the highest decision making bodies of the banned party, was arrested in New Delhi Sep 20.

Booked under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, he is in judicial custody till Nov 27.

Born in a family of an ice cream baron in Mumbai, Ghandy studied in Doon School, St Xavier's College and went to London to study chartered accountancy.

He was in-charge of expanding the Maoist organisation in urban areas and played a key role in getting international recognition for the outfit.

His wife Anuradha, the only woman member of CPI-Maoist central committee, died of malaria last year.