Former Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba Passes Away
On a somber Saturday evening in Hyderabad, former Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba passed away. The news was met with deep condolences from many, including CPI Secretary Narayana, who expressed, “I express my deepest condolences on the passing of Professor Saibaba. Despite being physically challenged in real life, he courageously defied government restrictions and emerged victorious in his unwavering struggle.”
Professor Saibaba, an English professor at Delhi University, faced significant challenges in his life. In 2014, he was suspended from the college following his arrest by Maharashtra police on suspicion of having links to Maoist groups. He was subsequently incarcerated in Nagpur Central Jail.
In a significant legal development, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court acquitted Saibaba and five others in an alleged Maoist links case on March 25, 2024. This judgment was delivered by Justices Vinay Joshi and Valmiki SA Menezes after the Supreme Court set aside an earlier acquittal order of the High Court.
Previously, Saibaba and others were sentenced to life imprisonment by the Sessions Court in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, in March 2017 for offenses under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code. They were accused of association with the Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF), linked to the outlawed Maoist organization.
On October 14, 2022, the Bombay High Court acquitted Saibaba and others, but the Maharashtra government challenged this decision in the Supreme Court. On April 19, 2023, the Supreme Court set aside the Bombay High Court’s order that had discharged Saibaba and the other accused under the UAPA for their alleged Maoist links.
Doubts Revealed
GN Saibaba -: GN Saibaba was a professor at Delhi University. He was known for his activism and was involved in legal battles due to allegations of having links with Maoists.
Hyderabad -: Hyderabad is a large city in India, known for its rich history and culture. It is the capital of the Indian state of Telangana.
CPI -: CPI stands for Communist Party of India. It is a political party in India that follows the ideology of communism.
Maoist -: Maoists are people who follow the ideas of Mao Zedong, a Chinese leader. In India, some groups are called Maoists because they want to change the government using force, which is not allowed by law.
Bombay High Court -: The Bombay High Court is a big court in India that makes important legal decisions. It is located in Mumbai, which was earlier known as Bombay.
Supreme Court -: The Supreme Court is the highest court in India. It makes the final decisions on important legal matters in the country.
