Former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba, who was recently acquitted by the Bombay High Court in a case concerning alleged Maoist affiliations, has expressed that he still feels confined as though he were in a prison cell, despite having spent seven years incarcerated.
He was freed from Nagpur Central Jail on Thursday, just two days following his acquittal.
During a press conference, Saibaba shared details of his "prison ordeal" and became visibly emotional while discussing the impact the past seven years had on his family.
Saibaba was detained in Nagpur Central Jail in 2017 following a conviction by a trial court in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district. Before this, he had been imprisoned from 2014 to 2016, before being released on bail.
"I still can't comprehend that I am free. I feel as though I am still confined within that notorious cell. It was akin to an 'agni pariksha' for me, a trial by fire that I endured twice," he remarked.
He expressed gratitude towards his legal team, noting that one of his lawyers represented him without charging any fees. "Another solicitor was imprisoned for supporting me. During the trial, some police officers intimidated my lawyers," he claimed.
Reflecting on his family's experience, he highlighted their survival on hope alone. "Instead of going to the hospital, I chose to address the media because you supported me. My family endured stigma, and I was labelled a terrorist," he said, tears in his eyes.
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