Top CPI (Maoist) leader Bhupathi says unaware of Ganapathi’s whereabouts
HYDERABAD: Senior Communist Party of India (Maoist) politburo member Mallojula Venugopal Rao, known by his aliases Bhupathi and Sonu, who surrendered to police recently, has claimed ignorance about the fate of his former comrade and ideological mentor Muppala Lakshmana Rao, better known as Ganapathi.
Ganapathi, the former general secretary of the banned CPI (Maoist), has remained untraceable for the past two years, leading to speculation within security circles about his fate.
Bhupathi, 69, surrendered with 61 cadres before Gadchiroli police on October 14
Bhupathi, 69, along with 61 cadres, laid down arms before Gadchiroli police on October 14. The group carried a combined bounty of ₹6 crore across several states. Bhupathi, the seniormost politburo member and strategist for the outfit’s central military commission, spent over four decades in the dense forests of Dandakaranya, spanning Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. He was closely involved in guerrilla operations and organisational planning in the Red Corridor.
Security agencies view Bhupathi’s surrender as a major intelligence breakthrough. Bhupathi, a close associate of several top Maoists, including his brother Kishenji, who was killed in 2011, is expected to provide crucial insights into Maoist strategy, recruitment and operations.
Ganapathi, ex-Maoist general secretary, missing for two years
According to sources, central and state intelligence agencies are eager to question him about the disappearance of Ganapathi, who stepped down as general secretary in 2018 due to ill health and handed over leadership to Nambala Keshava Rao, alias Basavaraj, who was neutralised in May 2025. Ganapathi’s whereabouts remain unknown, with theories suggesting that he may have gone underground or sought exile abroad. However, officials said no concrete leads have emerged so far.
