Mumbai court denies pre-arrest bail to 2 TISS students accused of Maoist links, anti-India activities in G.N. Saibaba case, details
The case stems from a gathering on October 12, 2025, in front of Hostel No. 4 at TISS Mumbai. A group of 10 to 12 students assembled without administrative permission to mark the first death anniversary of G.N. Saibaba
Total Views |
On Friday, August 7, the Greater Mumbai Sessions Court denied anticipatory bail to two out of a total of nine applicants who are students of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). The case relates to an unauthorized event held on TISS campus last year, in memory of former Delhi University professor Prof. G. N. Saibaba.
The case stems from a gathering on October 12, 2025, in front of Hostel No. 4 at TISS Mumbai. A group of 10 to 12 students assembled without administrative permission to mark the first death anniversary of G.N. Saibaba, who passed away on October 12, 2024, after the Bombay High Court acquitted him of Maoist links charges under the UAPA.
According to the prosecution, students affixed Saibaba’s photographs to trees, lit candles, read his poetry, and displayed slogans stating "Rest in Power (since 1967-forever)". Authorities further alleged that participants raised slogans demanding the release of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, both of whom are behind bars under UAPA.
_202608072232491334_H@@IGHT_400_W@@IDTH_600.jpg "GN Saibaba")
_202608072233491024_H@@IGHT_400_W@@IDTH_600.jpg "GN Saibaba")
In the court order exclusively obtained by Newsbharati, the court rejected the pre-arrest bail pleas of Abhirup Paul and Kamakhya Prasad Das. Police submissions revealed that seized electronic devices belonging to Das contained downloaded literature published by members of the banned CPI (Maoist), alongside evidence of deleted files. The court observed that the nature of the recovered material appeared intended to instigate illegal activities and influence fellow students. The prosecution also highlighted that Das had failed to cooperate on key aspects of the investigation and allegedly threatened a police officer during the probe.
Judge Bohra remarked that while paying homage to an acquitted individual was not illegal, raising campus slogans for individuals facing trial under UAPA crossed permissible limits. The court ruled that custodial interrogation of Paul and Das was necessary to ascertain their intent and investigate potential links with the Maoists.
Conversely, the court granted anticipatory bail to seven applicants across the two applications: Uttkarsh Khuntia, Yash Kaundilya, Avantika, and Ishpreet Kaur, Hardika Bhagat, Satyam Yadav, and Nikita Monica D'Souza. The judge noted that these seven students had no prior criminal antecedents, had cooperated with law enforcement, and no incriminating or banned material was recovered from their possession.
These seven students have been granted pre-arrest bail on executing a personal bond of Rs 25,000 each with a surety of equal amount. They have further been directed to cooperate with Crime Branch Unit-6 in Chembur, refrain from pressurizing witnesses, and seek prior court permission before traveling abroad.
Additional Sessions Judge V. B. Bohra denied pre-arrest bail to accused students Abhirup Paul and Kamakhya Prasad Das while granting relief to seven others. While passing the orders, the court established a legal distinction between mere participation and allegations involving radical digital content and non-cooperation.
Former DU prof G N Saibaba (Image- Free Press Journal)
The case stems from a gathering on October 12, 2025, in front of Hostel No. 4 at TISS Mumbai. A group of 10 to 12 students assembled without administrative permission to mark the first death anniversary of G.N. Saibaba, who passed away on October 12, 2024, after the Bombay High Court acquitted him of Maoist links charges under the UAPA.
Following a complaint filed by the TISS Associate Dean, Trombay Police registered FIR No. 464/2025. The case was later transferred to the Crime Branch Unit-6 of Mumbai Police as Crime No. 107/2025. Charges were invoked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including criminal conspiracy and the Maharashtra Police Act.
According to the prosecution, students affixed Saibaba’s photographs to trees, lit candles, read his poetry, and displayed slogans stating "Rest in Power (since 1967-forever)". Authorities further alleged that participants raised slogans demanding the release of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, both of whom are behind bars under UAPA.
The court noted the prosecution's contention that the material recovered during the investigation indicated that Abhirup Paul was allegedly influenced by Maoist ideology. According to the prosecution, Paul, along with Kamakhya Prasad Das, had allegedly intended to use the programme as a platform to influence other students and propagate such views. The prosecution further argued that the recovered material was of a nature that could potentially instigate or facilitate unlawful activities, forming a key part of the case presented before the court.
Delhi Police Special Cell booked Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam on charges of being the key conspirators in the Delhi Riots that broke out during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Imam faces multiple standalone FIRs across several states (Delhi, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur) over speeches he made during anti-CAA demonstrations at Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). As per the videos that had gone viral back then, he was inviting the crowds to "cut off Assam and the Northeast from the rest of India".
In the court order exclusively obtained by Newsbharati, the court rejected the pre-arrest bail pleas of Abhirup Paul and Kamakhya Prasad Das. Police submissions revealed that seized electronic devices belonging to Das contained downloaded literature published by members of the banned CPI (Maoist), alongside evidence of deleted files. The court observed that the nature of the recovered material appeared intended to instigate illegal activities and influence fellow students. The prosecution also highlighted that Das had failed to cooperate on key aspects of the investigation and allegedly threatened a police officer during the probe.
It is important to note that the CPI (Maoist) is a banned Left-Wing Extremist organization engaged in 'protracted people's war' against the Constitutionally established and democratically elected government of India. The prosecution claimed that Paul was inspired by Maoist ideology and attempted to influence or alter the mindsets of other students. As a member of the Progressive Students Forum, he allegedly used social media to pressurize the informant and threatened a prosecution witness.
Judge Bohra remarked that while paying homage to an acquitted individual was not illegal, raising campus slogans for individuals facing trial under UAPA crossed permissible limits. The court ruled that custodial interrogation of Paul and Das was necessary to ascertain their intent and investigate potential links with the Maoists.
Conversely, the court granted anticipatory bail to seven applicants across the two applications: Uttkarsh Khuntia, Yash Kaundilya, Avantika, and Ishpreet Kaur, Hardika Bhagat, Satyam Yadav, and Nikita Monica D'Souza. The judge noted that these seven students had no prior criminal antecedents, had cooperated with law enforcement, and no incriminating or banned material was recovered from their possession.
These seven students have been granted pre-arrest bail on executing a personal bond of Rs 25,000 each with a surety of equal amount. They have further been directed to cooperate with Crime Branch Unit-6 in Chembur, refrain from pressurizing witnesses, and seek prior court permission before traveling abroad.