DU's Prof Saibaba, accused of helping Maoists, surrenders

Suspended Delhi University professor G N Saibaba, accused of having links with the Maoists, has surrendered before the Central Jail authorities in Nagpur as per the directive of the Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court.

Saibaba, who was on bail till December 31, gave himself up to jail authorities on Friday night, prison sources said on Saturday.

On December 23, the bench had rejected his regular bail application and directed him to surrender within 48 hours. Justice Arun Choudhary had declined the request to grant more time to Saibaba to surrender and directed the police to arrest him if he failed to turn up within two days.

The HC cited a medical report which clearly stated that proper medical aid was extended to Saibaba by doctors when he was lodged in the Nagpur prison.

Lawyers of the wheelchair-bound professor had pleaded for extension of bail on health grounds.

Saibaba was arrested in May 2014 by Gadchiroli police in Maharashtra for alleged active links with the Naxals.

Pournima Upadhyay, an activist, had written a letter to the chief justice of Bombay HC which was treated as public interest litigation, and thereafter temporary bail was granted to Saibaba for three months on health grounds by the Principal Bench based in Mumbai.