NIA charges 3 CPI-Maoist operatives in Andhra Pradesh explosives supply case
Synopsis
The NIA has filed its first chargesheet in the Andhra Pradesh explosives supply case, naming three CPI-Maoist operatives — two overground workers caught red-handed and one underground cadre. The filing exposes the logistical pipeline sustaining Maoist armed operations and signals the agency's sharpening focus on support networks, not just combatants.
Key Takeaways
The NIA filed a chargesheet against three CPI-Maoist operatives in a special court in Visakhapatnam on 29 May .
Accused Naka Devid Raj alias Daveedu and Vijay Viswas are overground workers; Sodi Kesa is an underground cadre.
All three are charged under the IPC , Explosive Substances Act , and UAPA in case RC-12/2024/NIA/DLI .
The NIA took over the case from local police in September 2024 ; investigations into further linkages are ongoing.
In a separate case, the NIA had chargesheeted six accused — including three absconders — over the 16 January 2024 CRPF camp attack in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh , which injured 12 CRPF personnel .
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against three CPI-Maoist operatives in a special court in Visakhapatnam, in a case involving the supply of explosive materials and logistical support to cadres of the banned terrorist organisation in Andhra Pradesh. The chargesheet, filed on Friday, 29 May, is the first in case RC-12/2024/NIA/DLI.
Who Was Charged
Two of the three accused — Naka Devid Raj alias Daveedu and Vijay Viswas — have been identified as overground workers (OGWs) of CPI (Maoist). The third accused, Sodi Kesa, is described as an underground Maoist cadre. According to the NIA, Devid and Vijay were caught red-handed by local police while en route to deliver a consignment of explosives to Sodi Kesa.
What Investigations Revealed
NIA investigations found that Devid and Vijay were actively engaged in the procurement, transportation, and supply of explosive materials to underground Maoist cadres, intended for use in attacks on security forces. The agency concluded that the accused had established links with CPI (Maoist) members and were knowingly providing assistance to advance the outfit's agenda.
The NIA, which took over the case from local police in September 2024, determined that the conspiracy was aimed at strengthening CPI (Maoist)'s operational capabilities in the region to disrupt national security and stability. All three accused have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Explosive Substances Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UAPA].
Broader Maoist Crackdown
This chargesheet is part of a wider NIA offensive against CPI (Maoist) networks. In a separate case, the agency had earlier chargesheeted six accused — including three absconders — in connection with a 2024 CRPF camp attack in Chhattisgarh. That attack, on 16 January 2024, targeted the Dharmavaram camp and simultaneously struck two adjacent CRPF camps at Chintawagu and Pamed in Bijapur district, injuring a dozen CRPF personnel. The Maoists were reportedly armed with automatic weapons and indigenously manufactured Barrel Grenade Launchers (BGLs).
The three arrested accused in that case were identified as Awalam Bhima, Madkam Nanda, and Madkam Deva alias Ratan. The three absconders include one Special Zonal Committee (SZC) member of the proscribed organisation. All six were charged under the UAPA, IPC, Arms Act, and Explosive Substances Act.
What Comes Next
The NIA has stated that investigations to identify further linkages of the banned outfit are ongoing. The Visakhapatnam chargesheet signals continued pressure on the overground support network that sustains Maoist operations — a layer that security agencies have increasingly prioritised alongside direct action against armed cadres.
Point of View
Couriers, and financiers who rarely make headlines. By targeting OGWs alongside underground cadres, the NIA is applying pressure at the logistics layer, which is harder to replace than foot soldiers. The simultaneous Chhattisgarh chargesheet, covering the January 2024 multi-camp attack, suggests the agency is working to close out a backlog of high-profile cases. What remains to be tested is whether these chargesheets translate into convictions under UAPA — a statute with a high acquittal rate in the higher courts — and whether the identified SZC absconder is ever brought to trial.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NIA Visakhapatnam CPI-Maoist explosives case?
It is a case registered as RC-12/2024/NIA/DLI involving the procurement and supply of explosive materials to underground CPI-Maoist cadres in Andhra Pradesh. The NIA took over the case from local police in September 2024 and filed its first chargesheet on 29 May against three operatives.
Who are the three accused chargesheeted by the NIA in Visakhapatnam?
The three accused are Naka Devid Raj alias Daveedu and Vijay Viswas, both identified as overground workers of CPI (Maoist), and Sodi Kesa, an underground Maoist cadre. Devid and Vijay were caught red-handed while transporting explosives to Sodi Kesa.
What charges have been filed against the accused?
All three have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Explosive Substances Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The charges relate to procurement, transportation, and supply of explosives to facilitate attacks on security forces.
How does this case connect to the 2024 Chhattisgarh CRPF attack?
In a separate but related enforcement push, the NIA also chargesheeted six accused — including three absconders — over the 16 January 2024 simultaneous attack on three CRPF camps in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh, which injured 12 personnel. One of the absconders is a Special Zonal Committee member of CPI (Maoist).
Are NIA investigations in the Andhra Pradesh case complete?
No. The NIA has stated that investigations to identify further linkages of the banned outfit are continuing, indicating more accused or networks may be uncovered beyond the three already chargesheeted.
