National Investigation Agency probes Maoist investment channels

An ongoing probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is expected to reveal how some Maoist leaders are using various channels of investments to secure money that comes from extortion channels.

The NIA probe to track down a leader of the banned CPI (Maoist) led to searches in two offices of Vikas Mutual Benefit Nidhi Limited, a private finance company, in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi.

The searches were conducted based on the information obtained from two suspected Maoist associates, the NIA arrested on March 21 from Latehar district. The two are suspected to have invested money extorted by Maoists in various financial institutions.

The two accused, Santosh Oraon and Roshan Oraon, were produced before a special court in Ranchi, following which NIA got their custody for seven days.

During searches the NIA seized two laptops, two CPUs, a pen drive and several incriminating documents pertaining to financial transactions done by senior Maoist cadres.

"We are scrutinising the documents and the computer data. We expect to get insight into the nature of CPI (Maoist) investments that may lead to more successful operations later" said a NIA official.