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G N Saibaba, a former professor at Delhi University's Ram Lal Anand College, passed away on Saturday evening at the age of 57. The wheelchair-bound academic succumbed to post-operative complications after undergoing surgery for gallbladder stones at Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in Hyderabad. He had been admitted to NIMS 10 days prior due to ill health and suffered a heart attack around 8 pm on Saturday, passing away shortly after at 8:30 pm.
Saibaba's death comes just a few months after he was acquitted by the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on March 5, 2023, following his arrest in 2014 for alleged Maoist links. He was released from Nagpur Central Jail on March 7th. The High Court division bench, consisting of Justices Vinay Joshi and Valmiki SA Menezes, overturned the life imprisonment sentence imposed on him and acquitted five other co-accused in the case. The court stated that the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt against them.
Saibaba's arrest in 2014 sparked widespread controversy and raised concerns about freedom of expression and academic freedom. He was initially accused of arranging a meeting between JNU student Hem Mishra and Uttarakhand-based journalist Prashant Rahi with members of the banned CPI (Maoist) and its alleged front organization, the Revolutionary Democratic Front. In March 2017, a Maharashtra sessions court convicted Saibaba and five others, including Mahesh Tirki, Pandu Narote, Hem Mishra, Prashant Rahi, and Vijay Tirki, for alleged Maoist ties and involvement in activities deemed as waging war against the nation. Saibaba, Mahesh Kariman Tirki, Hem Keshavdatta Mishra, Pandu Pora Narote, and Prashant Rahi were all sentenced to life imprisonment, while Vijay Tirki received a 10-year jail term.
Despite his acquittal, Saibaba's health had deteriorated during his time in prison. His supporters and activists had consistently raised concerns about his medical care and the conditions of his imprisonment. His passing marks a tragic end to a case that garnered national attention and sparked debate on issues of free speech, academic freedom, and the legal framework surrounding dissent.
Source: Former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba passes away