Mumbai: Esplanade Court Grants Bail To Former TISS Student In GN Saibaba Memorial Case; Cites Lack Of Maoist Link Evidence

Mumbai's Esplanade Court has granted bail to former Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) student Abhirup Paul, who was arrested following a memorial event for late activist GN Saibaba. The court ruled there is no evidence to connect him with a banned organization, specifically the Maoist movement. Paul was initially arrested after the sessions court rejected his anticipatory bail application on August 7.

His legal counsel argued that his custodial interrogation was unnecessary and that all the gadgets and materials found with him had already been seized. The prosecution opposed the bail request, pointing out PDF documents from the Purba Bangla Maoist Party, a cross-border organization, were discovered with Paul. They claimed this could suggest a link to cross-border relations and a possible connection to Maoist groups in Bangladesh opposing democracy.

The prosecution further argued that the memorial event was a preplanned conspiracy aimed at creating ideological divisions among TISS students and disrupting law and order, adding that Paul had deleted several secret groups from his mobile phone. The court acknowledged the allegations against Paul, stating they were prima facie related to commemoration activities and slogan shouting, but found no incriminating material to justify his involvement in national harm.

Considering his status as a member of the Progressive Students Forum at TISS and his participation in commemoration activities, the court deemed bail necessary for maintaining his career. The court emphasized that releasing Paul without evidence would not be just, as he was not connected to any material evidence of wrongdoing.