HC rejects Saibaba’s plea for parole to attend mother’s post death rituals

Nagpur: In yet another setback to Naxal leader GN Saibaba, the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Tuesday rejected his application for emergency parole to attend his mother’s post-death rituals.
Earlier, the HC had rejected the former Delhi University professor’s pleas for bail and regular parole to attend his ailing mother Gokarakonda Suryavathi, who was suffering from cancer and breathed her last on August 1 at his brother’s home in Hyderabad.
A division bench comprising justices Zaka Haq and Avinash Gharote made it clear that since Saibaba’s 78-year-old mother expired on August 1, almost all necessary rituals must have been completed now and therefore his demand for 15 day parole to be with family in grief couldn’t be fulfilled.
The bench pointed out that considering his age and other ailments, any travel for him in Covid-19 pandemic would clearly be unadvisable and he was getting all the medical help inside his Anda cell at Central Jail here.
“It would be in his interest not to undertake any travel at all. Any solace which he may be in need of, which according to him can be ameliorated by the company of his family members, can be addressed by arranging a meeting by video conferencing,” the judges held.
They directed respondents, including DIG (Prisons), to permit the wheelchair-bound petitioner to contact his family members through video conferencing on any specified date as suggested by him between 10am and 4pm, but after taking necessary precautions.
Earlier, senior counsel Mihir Desai, pleading for Saibaba, displayed willingness to deposit necessary charges for the latter’s travel to Hyderabad along with security personnel.
It was, however, strongly opposed by special public prosecutor Prashant Sathianathan contending that the police machinery is already under stress and overworked because of the pandemic situation and the luxury claimed by the petitioner can’t be considered.
The SPP pointed out that Saibaba was convicted under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Indian Penal Code for his links with Maoists and anti-national activities along with his accomplices, which are serious crimes.