KOCHI: CPI (Maoist) central committee member Sanjay Deepak Rao (SDR) has been booked by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in the case of conducting weapons training in the Wayanad forest area and meeting to coordinate the activities of the banned outfit CPI (Maoist). Rao will be taken into custody tomorrow. ATS found that Rao also participated in a meeting organized by the organisation's 'Kabani Dalam' in the forest in top secret.

Rao and his wife Muruvappalli Raji alias Saraswati, who were arrested on September 15 by the Telangana Intelligence Bureau and Hyderabad Police, are in jail in Telangana.

ATS has received the audio recording of Rao calling for strengthening of Maoism in Kerala. Kannur police had arrested Maoist leader Raghavendra, who had conducted weapons training in the Nilambur forest, last September. Based on the information received from him, Western Ghats Zonal Committee Secretary BG Krishnamurthy was also arrested. Sanjay Deepak Rao's conversation was on the electronic device that BG was holding.

Rao was announced a reward of Rs 25 lakh by the Maharashtra government. Rao is said to have controlled Maoist activities in Kerala.

Murali Kannambilly also accused?

It is hinted that Ernakulam resident Maoist leader Murali Kannampilly has also been implicated by the NIA in the Telangana UAPA case. Last day, NIA conducted an investigation in Palakkad and Malappuram in connection with the case. Murali, who was arrested in 2015 by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Force on charges of sedition, was released from jail in 2019.