Ex-DU professor G N Saibaba, acquitted after 10 years in jail, dies in Hyderabad

Former Delhi University (DU) professor and rights activist Gokarakonda Naga Saibaba (GN Saibaba) passed away on Saturday night (October 12) at Hyderabad’s Nizam’s Institute of Medical Science (NIMS). He was 57.

He died of a heart attack at around 8.45 PM on Saturday. He was admitted to the hospital following a critical illness 10 days back.

Also read: Ex-DU professor Saibaba's wife: Ten years of our lives wasted

English professor

Saibaba was an English professor at Delhi University’s Ram Lal Anand College which he had joined in 2003.

He was born in 1967 in Amalapuram of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. He suffered from polio in his childhood which made him wheelchair-bound. He completed his MA in English from Hyderabad Central University and obtained a doctorate from Delhi University.

Also read: Acquitted G N Saibaba still feels trapped: I feel like I'm still in jail

He was suspended by the DU administration in 2014 after the Maharashtra police allegedly found documents, pictures, and videos from his home that alluded to his Maoist connections.

Later, he was arrested eight months after the alleged seizure of incriminating documents. On March 31, 2021, his services were terminated from DU.

Also read: Saibaba released from jail after acquittal in Maoist links case

Saibaba convicted in 2017

In March 2017, a Maharashtra sessions court convicted Saibaba and five others namely Mahesh Tirki, Pandu Narote, Hem Mishra, Prashant Rahi, and Vijay Tirki, for alleged Maoist ties and involvement in activities deemed as waging war against the nation.

While Saibaba along with three others were convicted for life under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Tirki received rigorous imprisonment as a first-time offender. However, Saibaba was acquitted by the Bombay High Court on March 5, 2024, after over 10 years of imprisonment.

He was the founder member of the Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF) which was banned in August 2012 by the Andhra Pradesh government under Andhra Pradesh Public Security Act 1992. He took an active role against the Salwa Judum and Operation Green Hunt unleashed by security forces in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. He is survived by wife Vasantha and daughter Manjeera who is studying at English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) in Hyderabad.

Timeline of Saibaba's case

From June 2015 to December 2015, Saibaba was granted interim bail to receive medical treatment.

In April 2016, the Supreme Court granted Saibaba bail.

On March 7, 2017, Saibaba was sentenced to life in prison. Following the conviction, Saibaba was taken back into custody.

On June 28, 2018, several UN experts called for Saibaba’s immediate release, citing poor prison conditions and lack of adequate medical care for Saibaba.

In February 2021, Saibaba tested COVID positive.

In June 2021, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention declared Saibaba’s imprisonment arbitrary, calling for his immediate release.

In February 2022, Saibaba reportedly contracted COVID-19 for the second time.

In August 2022, Saibaba reportedly contracted swine flu.

On October 14, 2022, the Bombay High Court acquitted Saibaba and ordered his immediate release.

On October 15, 2022, the Supreme Court suspended Saibaba's acquittal.

On March 5, 2024, the Bombay High Court re-acquitted Saibaba.

On March 7, 2024, Saibaba was released from Nagpur Central Jail.