supreme-court-rejects-maharashtra-s-plea-for-stay-on-saibaba-acquittal-calls-high-court-decision-well-reasoned

The Supreme Court declined a Maharashtra government request for a stay on the acquittal of former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba and others in the Maoist links case, deeming the Bombay High Court's decision "prima facie well-reasoned."

 

In a session led by justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta, the bench admitted the state government's appeal against the high court's March 5 order but dismissed the request for an early listing. The bench emphasized the need for a fair and thorough review, stating, "There cannot be any urgency to reverse order acquittal."

 

The justices acknowledged the significance of Saibaba's acquittal, emphasizing the years he spent in jail. They noted two distinct acquittal orders by different benches of the high court, with a previous Supreme Court interference warranting the current appeal's admission.

 

While Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, representing the Maharashtra government, expressed the need to submit pertinent documents, the bench upheld the presumption of innocence, especially post-acquittal, reinforcing the legal principle.

 

Saibaba, who had been incarcerated since 2014, was released on Thursday following his acquittal by the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court. The court found the prosecution's case against him unsubstantiated, setting aside his life sentence and acquitting five other accused.

 

The high court had deemed the sanction procured by the prosecution under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act as "null and void," citing insufficient evidence to support the charges.

 

Previously, in October 2022, another bench of the high court had similarly acquitted Saibaba, declaring the trial proceedings void due to the absence of a valid sanction under the UAPA.

 

The Maharashtra government, dissatisfied with the verdict, approached the Supreme Court, leading to the ongoing appeal process.

 

Notably, Justice Rohit Deo, one of the judges who acquitted Saibaba in 2022, resigned in August 2023, adding a layer of complexity to the legal proceedings.

 

The case underscores the delicate balance between judicial scrutiny and the presumption of innocence, highlighting the nuances of legal proceedings and the enduring pursuit of justice.