Bombay High Court Acquits Former-DU Professor GN Saibaba, Others in Maoist Links Case

Mumbai: Former-professor of Delhi University GN Saibaba, who was arrested for suspected Maoist links, has been acquitted by Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court. court has set aside life imprisonment sentence to him in case. Along with GN Saibaba, HC has also acquitted five or accused, ruling that prosecution failed to prove case beyond reasonable doubt against m. 

A division bench of Justice Vinay G Joshi and Justice Valimiki SA Menezes h concluded hearing and reserved its verdict in September last year, following directions from Supreme Court.

Court held case as “null and void”

It also held as "null and void" sanction procured by prosecution to charge accused under provisions of stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

While prosecution did not seek HC to stay its order, it said it was likely to file an appeal in Supreme Court immediately.

acquitted appellants have been asked to deposit Rs 50000 each with surety bonds. 

Earlier, appeals were filed by Saibaba, Mahesh Tirki, Hem Mishra and Prashant Rahi, who were sentenced to life imprisonment and Vijay, who was sentenced to 10 years in jail by a special court in 2017. 

On October 14, 2022, anor bench of HC acquitted Saibaba, noting trial proceedings were "null and void" in absence of a valid sanction under UAPA.

Maharashtra government h on same day approached Supreme Court challenging decision. apex court initially stayed order and later in April 2023, set aside HC order and directed it to hear appeal filed by Saibaba afresh.

Saibaba (54), who is wheelchair-bound due to physical disability, has been lodged in Nagpur Central Jail since his arrest in case in 2014.

In 2017, a sessions court in Maharashtra's Gchiroli district convicted Saibaba and five ors, including a journalist and a Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student, for alleged Maoist links and for indulging in activities amounting to waging war against country.

trial court h held m guilty under various provisions of UAPA and Indian Penal Code.