Archive · 12 Dec 2025
Odisha Establishes Special Court for Maoist Leader Azad
The Odisha government has created a special court just for one person, a Maoist leader named Azad.
This court will help decide his cases faster.
Azad has been in jail since 2011 and has many cases against him, including some very serious ones.
The Supreme Court told the government to do this because Azad has been asking for a faster trial.
The new court is in Paralakhemundi and will handle most of his cases, except for one kind of case.
Azad was part of a group called the Maoists, and he is accused of doing some bad things, like hurting people and causing trouble.
Some of his cases have already been decided, and he was found not guilty in those.
Odisha government established a Special Court to expedite the trial of Maoist leader Dunna Kesava Rao (alias Azad).
Azad has been in judicial custody since 2011 with 37 pending criminal cases in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
The Special Court will handle cases excluding those registered under the POCSO Act, 2012.
Azad is a prime accused in the killing of VHP leader Swami Laxamananda Saraswati, which led to communal violence in Kandhamal in 2008.
The Supreme Court directed the governments of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to consider setting up special courts for faster disposal of Azad’s cases.
- Who
- Dunna Kesava Rao (alias Azad), a 52-year-old Maoist leader
- What
- Establishment of a Special Court to expedite the trial of Azad's cases
- When
- Notification issued on December 11, 2023, with the court's establishment in compliance with a Supreme Court order from March 2023
- Where
- Paralakhemundi, Gajapati district, Odisha, India
- Why
- To speed up the trial of 37 pending criminal cases against Azad, who has been in judicial custody since 2011
- Name
- Dunna Kesava Rao (alias Azad)
- Age
- 52
- Custody Since
- 2011
- Pending Cases
- 37
- Acquittals
- 10
- Notable Case
- Killing of VHP leader Swami Laxamananda Saraswati
- Court Location
- Paralakhemundi, Gajapati
- Excluded Cases
- POCSO Act, 2012
