Mumbai: The city crime branch has secured one more day of police custody of 32-year-old TISS student Abhirup Ashim Paul alias Ronnie in connection with an alleged unauthorised programme held at the institute’s campus in Oct 2025. Police told the court that they needed his custody to investigate alleged Maoist literature found on his electronic devices, recover deleted digital data and examine his field activities and alleged links with the Progressive Students Forum and other individuals.Paul was arrested by crime branch unit 6 on Saturday after a sessions court rejected his anticipatory bail plea. The case relates to a memorial gathering held at the TISS campus for former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba in Oct 2025. Several students entered the institute premises without prior permission, displayed Saibaba’s photograph, paid tribute to him and held a candle-lighting programme. Police have alleged that slogans such as “Release Umar Khalid” and “Release Sharjeel Imam” were also raised during the event.The case was initially registered at Trombay police station under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 37(d), 37(e) and 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act. It was subsequently transferred to the crime branch.While seeking further custody before the 37th Metropolitan Magistrate on Monday, investigating officer, police inspector Sushant Sawant, told the court that material allegedly downloaded on Paul’s electronic devices included literature associated with banned Maoist organisations. Police also claimed that WhatsApp conversations showed that Paul had undertaken field visits to different locations and that some messages had allegedly been deleted.Special public prosecutor Shishir Hire said they needed to recover the deleted data, establish the source and purpose of the material, examine his alleged field activities and identify his contacts and associates. Police also sought to determine whether the Oct programme was part of a wider effort to influence or radicalise students.The police further alleged that Paul was associated with Progressive Students Forum and sought to examine its structure, members and alleged external links. They also said notices had been issued to two TISS professors over allegedly suspicious WhatsApp exchanges with Paul and that his presence may be required during the inquiry.Police said nine mobile phones, seven laptops and one tablet had been seized during the investigation.Defence advocate Vijay Hiramath opposed further custody, arguing that Paul’s mobile phone and computer had already been seized and there was nothing left to recover from him physically. The defence sought judicial custody instead.After hearing both sides, the court granted the crime branch one day’s police custody.
