Mon Oct 14 23:46:26 UTC 2024: ## Former Delhi University Professor G.N. Saibaba Passes Away After Decade-Long Legal Battle
**Hyderabad, India -** G.N. Saibaba, a former Delhi University professor, passed away on Saturday in a Hyderabad hospital after a lengthy illness. Saibaba, 57, was a wheelchair-bound disability rights activist who spent nearly a decade in prison following his arrest on alleged Maoist links. He was eventually cleared of all charges by the Bombay High Court in October 2022.
Saibaba’s health deteriorated significantly during his imprisonment. Concerns were raised repeatedly by his family and lawyers, who highlighted delays in treatment and the impact of his confinement on his already fragile health.
In 2013, Saibaba was arrested by Maharashtra police, who accused him of being an active member of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). Despite facing various charges, including the anti-terror law UAPA, Saibaba and his co-accused were acquitted by the Bombay High Court in October 2022, due to procedural flaws in the investigation and prosecution.
However, the Maharashtra government challenged the High Court’s ruling in the Supreme Court, which subsequently suspended the acquittal order. While the Supreme Court later remanded the case back to the High Court for a fresh decision, the legal battle continued, with Saibaba’s health steadily declining.
Following his release from prison in March 2024, Saibaba’s health continued to deteriorate, leading to his eventual demise in Hyderabad on Saturday. His passing marks a tragic end to a decade-long legal battle marked by accusations, imprisonments, and legal challenges.
Saibaba’s case has become a symbol of the complex relationship between national security and individual rights in India. His story raises questions about the use of anti-terrorism laws, the importance of due process, and the challenges faced by those with disabilities within the criminal justice system.
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