National Investigation Agency (NIA) has revealed the details that Maoists prefer stashing large amount of cash in traditional methods, wrapping currency wads in layers of polythene, placing the hoards in metal boxes and concealing them in pits in remote forest areas.

Maoists have parked money in several ways. In some cases, money is left with the source itself and collected when required; large amounts are secreted in forest areas and in some cases with front-men. NIA says Maoists are spending the funds by investing into gold biscuits, fixed deposits and purchase of real estate. Explaining the modus operandi, NIA asserts “the money is given to real estate agents, who are perhaps trustworthy former radicals or cadre, who invest and return the money to Maoists.

A six-month long NIA investigation has thrown up details of Maoist funding operations in 90-odd districts affected by violent Left-wing-extremism (LWE) with the agency also tracking investments in real estate, bullion and business and money even being spent on education of children of top leaders.

The NIA investigation is expected to set the stage for a massive crackdown on Maoist leaders, their “overground” sympathisers, fund managers and businesses run by them through proxies. It is already probing around 10 cases of LWE “terror funding” for past several months and many people have been questioned.