New Delhi, May 2 (TIWN) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday said that it has arrested an absconding property manager from West Bengal's Hooghly in connection with a case of arms seizure from Maoists in Jharkhand.

An NIA spokesperson said that Manoj Chaudhary, who allegedly acted as a property manager of Mast group in Jharkhand, was arrested from Hooghly on Friday morning. Incriminating documents showing transactions in immovable properties were seized from his possession, the spokesman said.  The accused -- absconding for over three years -- was later sent in agency custody for five days by a Special NIA court in Ranchi.  The NIA had registered the case against Maoists in May 2018 after a huge cache of arms and ammunition were seized from Giridih in March that year. 

The police had arrested 15 suspected Maoists, including CPI-Maoist SAC member Sunil Manjhi.  The NIA had later taken over the probe from police. The NIA later seized more arms and ammunition from Lugu Pahadi area of Bokaro.  The official said that investigation revealed that Chaudhary was an active member of banned terror outfit Communist Party of India (Maoist) and he was instrumental in the investment of proceeds of terrorism like extortion or levy money collected by senior Maoists cadres in real estate. 

"He was in contact with senior CPI (Maoist) cadres since 2008 and channeling their ill-gotten wealth into acquisition of immovable properties at prime locations in Giridih district of Jharkhand," he said.  The NIA had filed two charge sheets against 17 accused, including absconding Chaudhary on August 31, 2018 and January 8, 2019.