Editor's Pick | HC acquits DU ex-professor, five others in ‘Maoist link’ case

The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court on Tuesday acquitted former Delhi University Professor G.N. Saibaba and five others in a Maoist links case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The bench said that the prosecution could not prove the case against the accused beyond “reasonable doubt”. It also said aside the life sentences awarded to Prof. Saibaba, Mahesh Tirki, Hem Mishra, Pandu Narote, Vijay Tirki and Prashant Rahi, by a sessions court in 2017. A Bombay High Court bench had acquitted Prof. Saibaba and the five other accused on October 14, 2022 as well, but the Supreme Court stayed the verdict and asked for the case to be heard afresh. Even now, the Maharashtra government approached the Supreme Court within hours of the Nagpur Bench judgment, seeking an urgent hearing after it failed to convince the High Court to stay the implementation of the judgment. Noting that the prosecution had failed to “establish any legal seizure or any incriminating material against the accused”, the court said, “The trial court judgment is not sustainable in the hands of law. We, therefore, allow the appeals and set aside the impugned judgment. All the accused stand acquitted.” Prof. Saibaba was arrested on May 19, 2014, while he was on his way home from Delhi University, by a joint team of the Maharashtra police, Andhra Pradesh police, and the Intelligence Bureau. He has been lodged in the Nagpur Central Jail since then. A sessions court in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra in 2017 convicted Prof. Saibaba and five other accused for indulging in activities amounting to waging war against the country. They were also held guilty of possessing Naxalite literature to circulate it among underground Naxalites. Prof. Saibaba’s wife Vasantha Kumari welcomed the verdict. “It feels like a huge relief, but we don’t know what to expect right now. He was acquitted in 2022 as well, but the decision was challenged. Till the time he comes back home here, we will remain anxious,” she said in Delhi. The Hindu Editorials Deprivileging bribe: On overruling the majority verdict in P.V. Narasimha Rao vs State Law and disorder: On Manipur, its ethnic polarisation and its law and order The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz The Department of Telecommunications launched Chakshu, a platform for telecom users to do what? Report fraud/spam callers To link their fixed line bills with mobile bills Report errors in billing To consolidate two or more connections under the same user To know the answer and to play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 06 March 2024 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]Open in browser [Mail icon]More newsletters HC acquits DU ex-professor, five others in ‘Maoist link’ case The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court on Tuesday [acquitted former Delhi University Professor G.N. Saibaba]( five others in a Maoist links case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The bench said that the prosecution could not prove the case against the accused beyond “reasonable doubt”. It also said aside the life sentences awarded to Prof. Saibaba, Mahesh Tirki, Hem Mishra, Pandu Narote, Vijay Tirki and Prashant Rahi, by a sessions court in 2017. A Bombay High Court bench had acquitted Prof. Saibaba and the five other accused on October 14, 2022 as well, but the Supreme Court stayed the verdict and asked for the case to be heard afresh. Even now, the Maharashtra government approached the Supreme Court within hours of the Nagpur Bench judgment, seeking an urgent hearing after it failed to convince the High Court to stay the implementation of the judgment. Noting that the prosecution had failed to “establish any legal seizure or any incriminating material against the accused”, the court said, “The trial court judgment is not sustainable in the hands of law. We, therefore, allow the appeals and set aside the impugned judgment. All the accused stand acquitted.” Prof. Saibaba was arrested on May 19, 2014, while he was on his way home from Delhi University, by a joint team of the Maharashtra police, Andhra Pradesh police, and the Intelligence Bureau. He has been lodged in the Nagpur Central Jail since then. A sessions court in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra in 2017 convicted Prof. Saibaba and five other accused for indulging in activities amounting to waging war against the country. They were also held guilty of possessing Naxalite literature to circulate it among underground Naxalites. Prof. Saibaba’s wife Vasantha Kumari welcomed the verdict. “It feels like a huge relief, but we don’t know what to expect right now. He was acquitted in 2022 as well, but the decision was challenged. Till the time he comes back home here, we will remain anxious,” she said in Delhi. The Hindu Editorials [Arrow][Deprivileging bribe: On overruling the majority verdict in P.V. Narasimha Rao vs State]( [Arrow][Law and disorder: On Manipur, its ethnic polarisation and its law and order]( The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz The Department of Telecommunications launched Chakshu, a platform for telecom users to do what? - Report fraud/spam callers - To link their fixed line bills with mobile bills - Report errors in billing - To consolidate two or more connections under the same user To know the answer and to play the full quiz, [click here]( [Sign up for free]( Today’s Best Reads [[Supreme Court holds that trees in Corbett tiger reserve fell prey to greed, nexus between politicians and officials] Supreme Court holds that trees in Corbett tiger reserve fell prey to greed, nexus between politicians and officials]( [[Rahul Gandhi to contest Lok Sabha polls from Amethi: U.P. Congress leader] Rahul Gandhi to contest Lok Sabha polls from Amethi: U.P. Congress leader]( [[Interview | T.N. Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu discusses the State Budget for 2024-25] Interview | T.N. Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu discusses the State Budget for 2024-25]( [[RBI directs card issuers to provide options for customers to choose card networks] RBI directs card issuers to provide options for customers to choose card networks]( Copyright© 2024, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. If you are facing any trouble in viewing this newsletter, please [try here]( Manage your newsletter subscription preferences [here]( If you do not wish to receive such emails [go here](