The Bombay High Court on Friday extended the interim bail granted to professor GN Saibaba till December 31, allowing him to continue with his medical treatment. Saibaba was arrested by Nagpur police and lodged
in prison for over a year until his deteriorating health was brought to the notice of the high court.
A division bench of chief justice Mohit Shah and justice AK Menon extended the bail and allowed Saibaba to apply before the Nagpur bench of the high court to seek regular bail as other accused in the case had been released on bail. The court extended the bail after it was informed that though his health was improving, he still needed medical attention. However, the prosecution opposed the extension stating the required health facilities can be given in prison.
Earlier, the high court had allowed him to shift to Delhi to stay with his family and take medical treatment at the hospital where he was being treated before his arrest. He was, however, restrained from using computers and laptops to ensure that no tampering of evidence occurs. He was told to appear before the trial court as and when required.
The bail was granted while hearing a suo motu (on its own) petition based on a letter written by activist Purnima Upadhyay, highlighting the deteriorating health of Saibaba in the Nagpur jail, where he is being held since his arrest last year. He was arrested for alleged Maoist links by the Maharashtra police. He is 90% handicapped due to post-polio paralysis and is wheelchair-bound.
