SC stays release of ex-DU prof, five others in Naxal links case
New Delhi, October 15: The release of former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba and five others in an alleged Naxal links case was stayed by the Supreme Court on Saturday.
The Supreme Court suspended the October 14 order of the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court, which discharged former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba and others in an alleged Maoist connections case, in a special hearing on Saturday.
Earlier on Friday, the Maharashtra government approached the Supreme Court challenging the decision.
On the Maharashtra government's plea challenging the High Court ruling, the Supreme Court sent notice to the accused in the case. The matter has been scheduled for a hearing on December 8 before the Supreme Court.
The matter was heard today by a bench of Justices MR Shah and Bela M Trivedi.
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On Friday, the High Court allowed an appeal filed by Saibaba and five others challenging a 2017 trial court ruling convicting and sentencing him to life in jail under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). They were arrested in 2014.
The High Court ordered Saibaba and the other accused to be released immediately.
In March 2017, the Sessions Court in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, sentenced them to life imprisonment for offences under various sections of the Unlawful Prevention of Atrocities Act (UAPA) and 120 B of the Indian Penal Code for alleged association with the Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF), which was alleged to be an affiliate of the outlawed Maoist organisation.
The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court acquitted alleged Naxal ideologue and former Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba and his five accomplices of having links with banned extremist groups on Friday.
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-PTC News with ANI inputs
