To probe event ‘mentioned in e-mail of accused with Maoist links’, Pune police team visits Delhi press club

Sources said content in the same communication suggested plans to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi in "another Rajiv Gandhi-type incident" by "targeting his road shows".

The arrested accused at the Shivajinagar court, in Pune on Thursday (Express Photo/Pavan Khengre)

Pune police visited the Press Club of India in Delhi to probe event. (Source: Express photo)

A team of Pune City Police visited the Press Club of India (PCI) in New Delhi on Saturday to verify “information recovered from emails” of one the five activists arrested in June over their alleged Maoist links. Police sources said an email dated April 18, 2017, seized from the laptop of Rona Wilson, stated — ‘On April 20, we will organise another programme under the banner – Committee for the Defence and Release of G N Saibaba’.

Sources said content in the same communication suggested plans to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi in “another Rajiv Gandhi-type incident” by “targeting his road shows”.

The Pune City Police team visited the PCI to check details of the “programme” allegedly referred to in the “emails” — a press conference held at the venue on April 20, 2017, organised by the committee, which was campaigning for the release of Delhi University professor G N Saibaba, said sources.

Saibaba was arrested over alleged Maoist links in May 2014. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by a Gadhchiroli court in March 2017.

Wilson, a member of the Committee for Release of Political Prisoners, was also part of the Committee for the Defence and Release of G N Saibaba, said a source.

“It was learnt that this programme regarding G N Saibaba was a press conference held in PCI, New Delhi, on April 20, 2017. So, a police team went to the PCI and checked information like booking slips and other details. Police have collected the essential details and further probe is on. It was to check the veracity of the communication recovered from the suspect (Rona). It was not an action against PCI or the person who made the booking for this conference,” said a senior police officer.

On June 6, Pune City Police had arrested Wilson, along with Sudhir Dhawale, leader of the Mumbai-based Republican Panthers Jati Antachi Chalwal, or RP, Nagpur-based lawyer Surendra Gadling of the Indian Association of People’s Lawyers, Nagpur University professor Shoma Sen and Mahesh Raut, a former Prime Minister Rural Development (PMRD) fellow, also held in Nagpur, for alleged links with the banned CPI-Maoist, following an investigation into a case lodged in connection with the Elgaar Parishad.

Story continues below this ad

The complainant in the case had alleged that the Parishad, a conference held at Shaniwarwada in Pune on December 31, had triggered the violence in Koregaon Bhima on January 1, during the 200th year celebrations of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon. One person was killed and several injured in the violence that had broken out between various groups.

All the arrested accused were booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and police have alleged that they played a role in providing Maoist funds for the Elgaar Parishad.

On June 7, while seeking police custody of the five accused, District Government Pleader Ujjwala Pawar had, without naming the Prime Minister, told the court about a “communication seized from Wilson that spoke of another Rajiv Gandhi-type incident”. The communication, allegedly between “Comrade Prakash and R”, is being probed by the investigators.

Other than the five accused, the FIR names 14 persons, including four alleged underground CPI-Maoist operatives — central committee member Milind Teltumbde, Prakash alias Ritupam Goswami, Manglu and Deepu.

Story continues below this ad

Police have submitted before the court that they have recovered data worth 25,000 GB from the digital devices seized from the five accused. Cloned copies of the recovered data have been obtained from the forensic department and are being investigated, said police.

Chandan Haygunde

Chandan Haygunde is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With over 20 years of experience in journalism, he is one of the region's most authoritative voices on crime, national security, and legal affairs. Professional Profile Specialization: He specialises covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. While working on the ‘Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation’ in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He is at the helm of the widely read weekly series “Pune Crime Files”. He is widely recognized for his deep-dive coverage of the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and the Elgaar Parishad investigation. Key Beats: His portfolio includes covering crimes mainly under the jurisdiction of Pune City, Pune rural and Pimpri Chinchwad Police, along with the sensitive cases from the state, being investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Background: Before his long tenure at The Indian Express, he worked with other Marathi and English publications, giving him a unique grassroots understanding of Maharashtra's socio-political landscape. Awards and Recognition: He got the CMS PANOS Young Environment Journalist Award in January 2014 for investigative reports on illegal activities in Sahyadri Tiger Rerserve. He received the award for outstanding investigative journalism by the Lokmat group in Pune in January 2020, “Missing since 2010, Pune youth a ‘Maoist Commander’ in Chhattisgarh”, which appeared on July 9, 2019. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) In recent months, Chandan’s reporting has focused on high-profile terror case investigations, inter-state firearms racket, leopard movements in Pune city, cyber scams and hearings of the Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry. 1. High-Profile crimes and terrorism cases “Techie linked to Al-Qaeda preached democracy is against Shariat” (Nov 17, 2025). Reporting on the ongoing investigation into the arrest of IT professional Zubair Hangargekar (37) from Pune for alleged terror links. “The case against Jyoti Jagtap, member of ‘Maoist front’ Kabir Kala Manch and Elgaar Parishad organiser, granted interim bail by apex court” (Nov 20, 2025) Tracking the updates in the high profile Elgaar Parishad case related to the alleged naxal activities in urban areas. “How NIA arrested doctor turned ‘ISIS recruiter’ in Maharashtra terror module case” (Nov 24, 2025) After the arrest of doctors in Delhi Red Fort blast, a report on alleged terror links of a consulting anaesthetist from a Pune hospital. “A year after loco pilot averts tragedy by spotting gas cylinder on railway track, probe still inconclusive” (Dec 8, 2025). Report on the unsolved case of a suspected sabotage incident, which could have derailed a train. “No records of Sambhaji Maharaj’s cremation available: Author, ex-IAS officer Vishwas Patil tells Koregaon Bhima panel” (Dec 1, 2025) Reporting on a sensitive issue related to the Koregaon Bhima violence. 2. Inter-state firearms racket "Pune police swoop down on ‘village of pistols’ in Madhya Pradesh; 36 detained, 50 kilns destroyed" (Nov 22, 2025) "Recce a week before, microplanning: how Pune police raided ‘village of pistols’ in MP" (Nov 24, 2025) Reporting on the illegal gun manufacturing units in Umarti village, Madhya Pradesh 3. Cybercrime & Financial Scams “Pimpri Chinchwad police arrest ‘bank account supplier’ with links to China, nationwide cyber scams" (Nov 27, 2025) An investigative look at the modus opernadi of international cyber-gangs cheating high-earning professionals across the country ‘Your case linked to Pahalgam terrorist’: Pune businessman loses Rs 1.44 crore to fraudster posing as NIA chief" (Oct 18, 2025) Report on the tricks played on cyber scammers cheating people through digital arrest frauds Signature Style: The Investigative Hit Chandan is known for his ability to cultivate deep-cover sources within the police and intelligence agencies. His writing often goes beyond the "police version" of events, providing historical context and identifying systemic lapses. He is particularly respected for his balanced reporting on sensitive communal issues and his persistent tracking of the Maoist urban-link cases, making his columns essential reading for legal experts and policymakers. X (Twitter): @chandan_pune ... Read More

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories