Overview

• Additional Sessions Judge C S Baviskar framed charges on October 3 against Sathyanarayana Rani, Parasram Maniram Tulavi, Somsay Dalasay Madavi and Kisan Sitaram Hidami.
• The four entered not-guilty pleas in the special NIA court, with the trial listed to begin on October 17.
• Prosecutors cited the IPC, the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act and the Explosive Substances Act, including counts of conspiracy, murder, waging war and terrorist acts.
• The case stems from a May 1, 2019 IED blast near Lendhari in Gadchiroli that destroyed a police QRT vehicle and killed 15 personnel and a civilian driver.
• The NIA’s chargesheet alleges a CPI (Maoist) plot planned in the Aarewada jungle as retaliation for 2018 encounter deaths, with principal accused Narmada Akka reported deceased in 2022 and Rani out on medical bail while others remain in custody.