NIA court in Vizag convicts 3 Maoists to 5 years in terror conspiracy
Synopsis
An NIA special court in Visakhapatnam has handed five-year rigorous imprisonment to three members of a Maoist front organisation under UAPA — while two senior cadres named in the same chargesheet remain underground. The verdict lands just weeks after Andhra Pradesh approved a dedicated NIA court with state-wide jurisdiction, signalling a sharper institutional push against Maoist networks in the region.
Key Takeaways
An NIA special court in Visakhapatnam convicted Dongari Devendra , Dubashi Swapna , and Chukka Shilpa on 23 July .
Each convict received five years of rigorous imprisonment under Sections 18, 18B, 20, 38, and 39 of the UAPA; sentences run concurrently.
A fine of ₹2,000 per section was imposed, with six months' additional imprisonment on default.
Two absconding accused — Gajarla Ravi alias Uday and Venkata Ravi Chaitanya alias Aruna — remain at large.
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet on 10 July approved a new dedicated NIA court in Visakhapatnam with state-wide jurisdiction and 16 staff members .
20 NIA cases are currently pending in Andhra Pradesh, 19 of them in Visakhapatnam.
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court in Visakhapatnam has convicted and sentenced three accused to five years of rigorous imprisonment in a terror conspiracy case linked to radicalisation, recruitment, and support for the banned CPI (Maoist) organisation. The verdict, delivered on 23 July, marks a significant outcome in one of the agency's cases involving ground-level Maoist support networks in Andhra Pradesh.
Who Was Convicted
The three convicted individuals — Dongari Devendra, Dubashi Swapna, and Chukka Shilpa — were members of Chaitanya Mahila Sangam (CMS), a front organisation operating in support of CPI (Maoist), according to the NIA. All three were arrested in June 2022 and chargesheeted by the NIA in December 2022.
The court sentenced each convict to rigorous imprisonment of five years under each of Sections 18, 18B, 20, 38, and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The sentences will run concurrently. A fine of ₹2,000 per section has also been imposed, with an additional six months' simple imprisonment in case of default.
Absconding Accused Still at Large
The chargesheet named two additional accused — Gajarla Ravi alias Uday and Venkata Ravi Chaitanya alias Aruna — described as senior Maoist cadres who remain underground and are currently absconding. Their cases are expected to proceed separately once they are apprehended.
The NIA had taken over the case from the Andhra Pradesh State Police in June 2022. The case centres on conspiracy, active recruitment, material support, and radicalisation activities carried out in furtherance of CPI (Maoist)'s banned agenda.
Andhra Pradesh Strengthens NIA Court Infrastructure
The conviction comes shortly after a broader institutional development: on 10 July, the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet approved the establishment of a dedicated special NIA court in Visakhapatnam with state-wide jurisdiction. The new court will be staffed by 16 personnel, including a Special Judge.
The move follows a Supreme Court directive to all states to set up special NIA courts for time-bound disposal of cases under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008. The Andhra Pradesh High Court had separately opined that a dedicated court at the District and Sessions Judge level in Visakhapatnam was necessary, given the volume of pending cases.
Pending Caseload in the State
According to officials, 20 NIA cases are currently pending in Andhra Pradesh. Of these, 19 are before the Court of the 3rd Additional District and Sessions Judge in Visakhapatnam, while one is pending before the 2nd Additional District and Sessions Judge in Vijayawada. The new dedicated court is expected to accelerate disposal of this backlog.
With two senior Maoist cadres still at large and a growing NIA caseload in the state, the Visakhapatnam court's expanded infrastructure will be closely watched as a test of the Centre's counter-insurgency legal apparatus.
Point of View
Which is where the actual organisational threat lies. The broader story is institutional: Andhra Pradesh's move to establish a state-wide NIA court in Visakhapatnam, prompted by a Supreme Court directive, reflects how badly the legal infrastructure has lagged behind the investigative one. With 20 cases pending and a dedicated bench only now being constituted, the gap between arrest and conviction has been wide enough to blunt deterrence. Whether faster disposal translates into stronger counter-insurgency outcomes depends on whether the state can also close the gap on absconding accused.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were convicted by the NIA court in Visakhapatnam?
The three convicted individuals are Dongari Devendra, Dubashi Swapna, and Chukka Shilpa — all members of Chaitanya Mahila Sangam (CMS), a front organisation of the banned CPI (Maoist). They were arrested in June 2022 and sentenced on 23 July to five years of rigorous imprisonment under multiple sections of the UAPA.
What sections of the UAPA were invoked in this case?
The court sentenced the three convicts under Sections 18, 18B, 20, 38, and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, covering conspiracy, recruitment, membership, and support for a terrorist organisation. The sentences under each section run concurrently.
Why are two accused still not convicted?
Two senior Maoist cadres named in the chargesheet — Gajarla Ravi alias Uday and Venkata Ravi Chaitanya alias Aruna — are absconding and remain underground. Their trial cannot proceed until they are apprehended.
What is the new NIA court approved by the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet?
On 10 July, the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet approved a dedicated special NIA court in Visakhapatnam with jurisdiction over the entire state. The court will have 16 staff members including a Special Judge, and was set up following a Supreme Court directive for time-bound disposal of NIA cases.
How many NIA cases are pending in Andhra Pradesh?
According to officials, 20 NIA cases are currently pending in Andhra Pradesh — 19 before the 3rd Additional District and Sessions Judge in Visakhapatnam and one before the 2nd Additional District and Sessions Judge in Vijayawada.
