Former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba passes away in Hyderabad

Expressing deep condolences, CPI Secretary Narayana said a statement, "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."

"Though Professor Saibaba is no longer with us physically, his spirit of struggle remains with us. I offer heartfelt condolences on his demise and extend my sympathies to his family," he added.

An English professor at Delhi University, Saibaba was suspended from the college in 2014 after his arrest by Maharashtra police on suspicion of having links to Maoist groups. Following his arrest, Saibaba was incarcerated in Nagpur Central Jail.

The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court acquitted him and five others in an alleged Maoist links case on March 25, 2024. The judgment was delivered by a bench of Justices Vinay Joshi and Valmiki SA Menezes, who reheard the appeal after the Supreme Court set aside an earlier acquittal order of the High Court.

Saibaba and the others had been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Sessions Court in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, in March 2017 for offenses under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code for their alleged association with the Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF), which was claimed to be an affiliate of the outlawed Maoist organization.

On October 14, 2022, the Bombay High Court acquitted Saibaba and the others in the case; however, 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 in the case under the UAPA for their alleged Maoist links. (ANI)