Former Maoist Strategist Bhupathi Appointed as Coordinator at Gondwana University

Gondwana University in Maharashtra has appointed Mallojula Venugopal Rao, also known as Bhupathi, as a coordinator for the Ekal programme scheme. Bhupathi is a 70 to 71 year old former senior polit bureau member and military strategist of the banned CPI (Maoist) who had a combined bounty of 6 crore rupees across six states. He surrendered to the Maharashtra Police last year along with 60 other Maoists in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

In his new role, Bhupathi will work to empower 1,442 Gram Sabhas across the Gadchiroli district. His responsibilities include educating tribal communities about their rights under the Forest Rights Act and the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, assisting with claim documentation, and acting as a liaison between local communities and the district administration. He will also contribute to research at the Tribal Research Centre. The appointment follows a formal application and interview process, conducted in consultation with the police department and district administration. He will receive a monthly stipend or honorarium of 30,000 rupees on a contract basis.

Reporting on the event differs in framing based on political lean. A center right source frames the appointment as a significant move toward mainstream rehabilitation and a signal that surrendered insurgents can secure rights through legal channels. Conversely, a center left source focuses on Bhupathi's personal transition and his ongoing criticisms of the system, including his concerns over government land acquisition and the restrictive nature of police surveillance for surrendered cadres.