Mumbai: The city crime branch, while seeking further custody of arrested TISS student Abhirup Ashim Paul, told a court that it was probing visits to several sensitive locations that he undertook citing field work and research, alleging that his activities bore similarities to those of TISS alumnus Mahesh Raut, who was later accused in the Elgar Parishad case for alleged Maoist links.Police told the court that Paul had visited Palghar, the Sundarbans, Karave village and JNPT as part of field work or research. Police alleged that during his Palghar visit, Paul propagated Marxist ideology among locals. Investigators also examined his interactions with fishing communities in Karave, where he allegedly discussed the impact of government development projects on their livelihoods.The police said Raut had earlier visited Gadchiroli under the pretext of “college research”, whcih needs to be probed. Police are also probing Paul’s visit to the Sundarbans, where a booklet of the Purba Bangla Maoist Party was allegedly recovered from him. Investigators want to ascertain how he obtained the booklet, who guided him during the visit, and the purpose of his travel.Police further said they were examining Paul’s visit to JNPT with a professor after WhatsApp messages referring to statements such as “Say no to Indian’s corporate nuclear agenda” and “Target economic centres of control” were found. Investigators want to establish the context of the messages, Paul’s role and the purpose of the visit to the economically significant port facility.The remand application also referred to Paul’s internship with a Dehradun-based NGO and his alleged association with the Progressive Students Forum (PSF). Police described PSF as an organisation opposed to the college administration and alleged that its members had pressured the complainant through social media and threatened a witness.Police also claimed Paul was associated with the Communist Party of India in Palghar and was influenced by communist ideology. On August 9, he allegedly visited an area in Palghar with friends and posed for a photograph with a banner featuring Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara. Police later took him to the location and recorded the statement of local sarpanch Uttam Bhodwa, which, according to the investigators, indicated that Paul had propagated Marxist ideology among residents.However, the court rejected the plea for further police custody. “Considering the starting point of investigation and period gone for investigation of the allegation the investigating officer had got sufficient PCR,” the court observed, adding that the the officer had failed to make out a case for further police custody. Paul was consequently remanded in judicial custody till August 24.
