Kolkata, Sep 18 A designated court on Friday remanded top Maoist leader Asim Mandal alias Akash, carrying a reward of Rs 1 crore, to 10 days' police custody following his arrest by the Kolkata Police's Special Task Force (STF).
Akash was produced before the designated court, which remanded him to police custody till September 28.
According to police, Akash was a close associate of Maoist military commander Mallojula Koteswara Rao alias Kishenji, who was killed in an encounter with security forces in West Bengal's Jhargram district in 2011.
Police said Akash played a key role in organising the Maoist uprising in the state's Jangalmahal region between 2008 and 2011.
At least 17 criminal cases were registered against Akash in Jharkhand, and an additional 13 cases were pending against him in West Bengal, according to police.
Kolkata Police STF on Thursday arrested 64-year-old Akash, a central committee member and secretary of the West Bengal State Committee-I of CPI(Maoist), from Purba Medinipur district.
