Bombay High Court acquits former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba in case of links with Maoists; what his wife said?

Bombay High Court has acquitted former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba in the case of links with Maoists.

Saibaba was sentenced to life imprisonment in this case.

In May 2014, Professor GN Saibaba was arrested by Maharashtra Police from his home in Delhi. After this Saibaba was suspended by Delhi University.

Gadchiroli court of Maharashtra had found Professor Saibaba guilty under sections 13, 18, 20 and 39 of UAPA.

Professor Saibaba is disabled. After the intervention of the Supreme Court, he was released on bail in July 2015 on the grounds of deteriorating health.

Professor GN Saibaba, as a social worker, was also associated with an organization named Revolutionary Democratic Front. He was the Deputy Secretary of 'Revolutionary Democratic Front'.

The 'Revolutionary Democratic Front' was targeted by intelligence agencies in 2014 for its links with Maoists.

The Bombay high court bench delivered the verdict after rehearing the appeal by GN Saibaba after an earlier bench of the high court too had acquitted the disabled professor on October 14, 2022.

The bench, citing a lack of sufficient evidence, acquitted all the accused. Additionally, it declared the prosecution's obtained sanction, enabling charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), as "null and void."

Despite the prosecution's decision not to request a stay on the order, it expressed intentions to file an appeal in the Supreme Court promptly.

GN Saibaba, a 54-year-old professor with a 99% disability and confined to a wheelchair, is currently incarcerated in Nagpur Central Jail.

'We have suffered a lot in these years'

Saibaba's wife Vasantha Kumari, speaking to media, said, “We came to know about it only through the media. My daughter Manjira and I are very happy to hear this news. Hopefully he is released without any further hindrances. Saibaba and we have suffered a lot in these years. It is hoped that the remaining accused in this case also get justice soon.”

Well-known senior advocate Indira Jai Singh has expressed happiness over the decision to release Saibaba but has also raised serious questions.

Indira wrote on Twitter, “Saibaba has been acquitted, but after how long? Who will repay the damage done to his health? Court?  How many more people will have to wait for bail? Who will pay the price for the loss of the people’s freedom ?”