SC sets aside Bombay HC order acquitting former DU professor GN Saibaba in Maoist links case

The Supreme Court on Wednesday set aside a Bombay High Court judgement acquitting former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba who was sentenced to life imprisonment in March 2017 for having links with Maoists, reported Bar and Bench.

Saibaba was arrested in May 2014 after the police alleged that he was “likely to indulge in anti-national activities”. The former professor was granted interim bail in April 2016. Following his conviction in 2017, Saibaba was lodged at the Nagpur Central Jail.

On October 14, the High Court had held that a sessions court in Gadchiroli had charged Saibaba under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act without sanctions from the Central government.

The 55-year-old is wheelchair-bound as he suffers from ailments due to which 90% of his body is disabled. Several human rights bodies and civil society groups had demanded his release on health grounds.

At Wednesday’s hearing, a division bench of Justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar sent the matter to the High Court for fresh consideration. The court also suggested that the case be heard by another bench of the Bombay High Court since the previous bench has already formed an opinion on the matter, reported Bar and Bench.

“It will be open for the state to argue that sanction [from the Centre] need not be...

Read more