On October 17, Gokarakonda Naga Saibaba, a 57-year-old former teacher at Delhi University, passed away at a hospital in southern India due to complications following a gallstone operation. Although officially classified as natural death – cardiac failure due to post-operative complications – those close to him and prominent human rights advocates labeled it an “institutional murder” on social media and in media reports.
A paraplegic, Saibaba died approximately seven months after being released following ten years of imprisonment, including seven years in a cell designated for dangerous criminals.
The wheelchair-bound assistant professor of English at Ram Lal Anand College in New Delhi was arrested in May 2014 and charged with being associated with the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) and its affiliated organizations. The college initially suspended him and later terminated his employment.
He was charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), a controversial anti-terror law known for infringing on human rights. Obtaining bail under this law is exceedingly difficult, as the burden of proof lies with the accused, not the prosecution. Despite the UAPA’s low conviction rate, courts seldom grant bail, leading to allegations of its misuse for suppressing dissent and curtailing civil liberties by human rights advocates.
In June 2015, after a year in jail, Saibaba was granted bail for medical treatment but was sent back to prison in December. Although the Supreme Court granted him bail in April 2016, he was returned to jail in March 2017 after being convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by a district court in Maharashtra.
Following an acquittal by the Bombay High Court in 2022, Saibaba’s case was reopened in 2023 by a different bench. In March 2024, this bench also acquitted him. However, by the time of his release, his health had significantly deteriorated.
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) listed Saibaba’s health issues as including heart conditions, brain cyst, hypertension, breathing difficulties, back pain, nerve damage, and previous bouts of COVID-19 and swine flu during his incarceration.
Upon acquitting him in 2024, the Bombay High Court highlighted procedural irregularities in the search and seizure at Saibaba’s residence, with questionable witnesses and flawed evidence. Despite these challenges, Saibaba’s release was delayed, contributing to his deteriorating health.
Throughout his imprisonment, Saibaba’s wife appealed for proper medical care, but he received minimal treatment. Upon his release, Saibaba described his deteriorated state due to the harsh prison conditions without adequate medical care, contributing to multiple health issues.
His passing raised questions about the justice system’s treatment of individuals like Saibaba and other activists and scholars facing prolonged incarcerations under terror charges, such as Anand Teltumbde, Hany Babu, Shoma Sen, Varavara Rao, Gautam Navlakha, and Umar Khalid.
While many of these cases remain unresolved, concerns have been raised about the use of stringent laws like the UAPA and delays in legal proceedings violating constitutional rights.
Saibaba’s death has underscored the need to uphold constitutional safeguards, balance anti-terrorism laws with individual liberties, and ensure fair prosecution processes within the criminal justice system.
The media coverage following Saibaba’s passing has prompted calls for judicial reform to address the indiscriminate use of stringent laws and the delay in dispensing justice.
As Saibaba’s tragic demise raises questions about the justice system’s efficacy, it serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by individuals like him and the urgent need for reform in the legal framework.