Former Maoist leader with ₹6 crore bounty now university coordinator in Gadchiroli

A 70-year-old former Maoist leader, who carried a ₹6 crore bounty and was wanted by police in six states, has been appointed as a coordinator at Gondwana University's Village Council Capacity Building and Training Centre in Gadchiroli.

Bhupathi, also known by several aliases including Abhay and Mallojula Venugopal, surrendered to Maharashtra Police less than a year ago. His surrender, along with 60 other cadres in October 2025, was seen as a significant blow to the Maoist movement in the state.

In his new role, Bhupathi will visit villages across Gadchiroli district to oversee the functioning of Gram Sabhas and raise awareness among tribal communities about their rights under forest-related laws, including the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996. The position offers a monthly stipend of ₹30,000 along with travel allowance.

Speaking about his transition, Bhupathi said his goal remains working for tribals, but through peaceful means. He stated he has no intention of joining any political party or forming a new one. He expressed concern over the acquisition of fertile tribal land for development projects, which he said could lead to future conflicts.

Bhupathi, a former senior polit bureau member of the banned CPI (Maoist), was known as a key ideologue and military strategist for nearly four decades. He noted that many surrendered cadres wish to return to their native villages but remain under police surveillance, which has created difficulties, particularly for young women seeking to marry.