  Different physical processes in galaxy evolution, such as galaxy mergers that
lead to coalescence of dual Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and outflows emanating
from the narrow line region, can leave their imprint on the optical spectra of
AGN in the form of double-peaked narrow emission lines. To investigate the
neutral gas in the centres of such AGN, we have conducted a pilot survey of HI
21-cm absorption, using the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT),
in radio-loud AGN whose optical spectra show double-peaked [OIII] emission
lines at z<=0.4 (median z~0.14). Among the eight sources for which we could
obtain clean spectra, we detect HI 21-cm absorption in three sources (detection
rate of 38(+36/-20)%) and find tentative indication of absorption in two other
sources. The detection rate of HI 21-cm absorption is tentatively higher for
the systems that show signatures of interaction or tidal disturbance (>~50%) in
the ground-based optical images than that for the systems that appear single
and undisturbed (~25%). This is consistent with the high incidence of HI 21-cm
absorption observed in z<=0.2 galaxy mergers. Higher spatial resolution
spectroscopy is required to confirm the origin of the HI absorbing gas, i.e.
either gas infalling onto the radio-loud AGN, outflowing gas ejected by the
AGN, or gas in rotation on the galactic-scale or circumnuclear discs.
