Sun Oct 13 07:01:18 UTC 2024: ## Former Delhi University Professor G.N. Saibaba Passes Away After a Long Battle With Maoist Charges

**Hyderabad, India** – Renowned academic and former Delhi University professor, G.N. Saibaba, passed away on Tuesday night after suffering a heart attack. He was 57. Saibaba’s death comes just months after he was acquitted of charges related to his alleged connection with Maoist groups, charges for which he had served a decade in prison.

According to reports, Saibaba was hospitalized in Hyderabad’s Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences for the past ten days due to complications arising from gallbladder surgery. His family friend, Deepak Kumar, stated that Saibaba had been experiencing severe pain and had been treated at various hospitals in Delhi before being admitted to Hyderabad for long-term care.

Saibaba’s colleagues and friends expressed their grief and shock, highlighting his academic brilliance and the injustice of his prolonged imprisonment. “It’s the most unfortunate thing that he came back home after being acquitted, things were getting better,” remarked Nandita Narayan, a former Delhi University professor and close friend.

Saibaba was arrested by the Gadchiroli police in Maharashtra on May 9th, 2014, and charged with being a member of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) and its leading group, the Revolutionary Democratic Front. The prosecution also alleged that he had organized meetings between students and journalists with members of banned organizations. He was sentenced to life imprisonment by a lower court in 2017.

Despite facing declining health during his imprisonment, Saibaba’s family relentlessly fought for his release. The Bombay High Court ultimately quashed his life sentence in March 2023, citing the prosecution’s inability to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Following his release, Saibaba was pursuing legal action to regain his job at Delhi University.

G.N. Saibaba’s untimely passing leaves a void in the academic community, leaving behind a legacy of intellectual contributions and a reminder of the consequences of wrongful imprisonment. His tragic story highlights the importance of upholding human rights and ensuring fair justice within the legal system.

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