New Delhi, March 11: On Monday, the #SupremeCourt dismissed the Maharashtra government’s plea to pause the #BombayHighCourt’s decision that exonerated former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba and others connected to Maoist activities. The Supreme Court panel, consisting of Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta, acknowledged the appeal from the state but found the high court’s justification initially persuasive, highlighting the lack of urgency in revisiting the acquittal decision. The High Court had cleared Saibaba and five others on March 5, citing insufficient evidence to substantiate the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
Furthermore, the High Court invalidated the authorization granted to prosecute under the #UAPA, emphasizing the absence of compelling evidence against the defendants. Saibaba, who uses a wheelchair, has been released after being incarcerated since his arrest in 2014, effectively dismissing all allegations against him.
The Supreme Court’s refusal to suspend Saibaba’s acquittal marks a significant triumph for him and his fellow defendants, casting light on the potential for the misuse of laws like the UAPA and underscoring the necessity for meticulous and equitable investigations prior to conviction.
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