When A paralyzed professor took on an indifferent state, justice became the greatest casualty.

In a world where liberty is often taken for granted, the case of G. Sai Baba serves as a chilling reminder of how easily an individual’s fundamental rights can be trampled by institutional systems. His story is not just a fight for justice; it is a harrowing struggle against a system that failed to protect one of its most vulnerable citizens. G. Sai Baba’s life, marked by relentless advocacy for human rights despite his own crippling disability, turned into a modern-day tragedy—a glaring example of how the state can turn on its citizens, snuffing out their liberty under the guise of security.

G. Sai Baba was no ordinary individual. Born into a world that seemed determined to challenge him, he contracted polio as a child, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Despite this, he fought valiantly, using his academic platform as a professor to amplify the voices of marginalized communities. His life’s work was cantered around advocating for those who had been silenced, the oppressed, and the forgotten. Yet, in a cruel twist of fate, his activism—once a beacon of hope for the downtrodden—became the very reason he was cast into darkness by the state.

In 2014, G. Sai Baba was arrested, accused of being a member of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). The state charged 90% crippled person, with conspiring against the government, allegedly based on possession of documents and electronic evidence tied to Maoist activities. The arrest marked the beginning of his descent into a Kafkaesque nightmare, where the line between guilt and innocence blurred, and the very foundations of justice seemed to crumble. What followed was a judicial process riddled with irregularities that ultimately led to his wrongful imprisonment under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The UAPA, often criticized for its vague definitions and potential for misuse, became the instrument of Sai Baba’s torment. Despite his 90% disability, the court branded him a “high-profile leader” of the Maoists, dismissing the abundant evidence presented by his defense. The charges against him were flimsy at best, and the state’s case relied on unsubstantiated allegations rather than concrete evidence. Yet, the system’s inertia carried him into a life sentence—a sentence that reflected not just a failure of justice but an indifference to his humanity.

As G. Sai Baba languished in prison, his health rapidly deteriorated. Years of inadequate medical care and the harsh conditions of incarceration wreaked havoc on his frail body. Despite pleas from his family and supporters for medical intervention, the prison authorities turned a blind eye. The very institution that was supposed to protect its citizens had become an accomplice in his suffering, reducing a once-respected professor and activist to a symbol of institutional neglect. Sai Baba, already a victim of polio, now became a victim of a judicial system that refused to acknowledge his basic rights as a disabled individual.

In October 2022, a ray of hope appeared when the Bombay High Court acquitted him, citing serious procedural lapses in the prosecution. The court lambasted the state for rushing to convict Sai Baba without substantial evidence, emphasizing the need for a higher standard of proof in cases where individual liberty was at stake. For a brief moment, it seemed that justice had prevailed. But the victory was short-lived. The Maharashtra government immediately filed an appeal against the acquittal, once again plunging Sai Baba into uncertainty and reinforcing the message that the state could wield its power with impunity.

Sai Baba’s case laid bare a grim truth about the Indian justice system: in many cases, the burden of proof rests disproportionately on the accused. For those like Sai Baba, who are ensnared by the state’s apparatus, the fight for freedom becomes a seemingly endless ordeal. The UAPA, with its sweeping powers, has become a tool for the state to suppress dissent and punish those who dare to question its authority. Sai Baba’s plight is a reminder that the state’s failure to present credible evidence should never come at the expense of an individual’s liberty. The real threat to national security is not dissent but the erosion of civil liberties under the guise of protecting it.

While the legal battle waged on, Sai Baba’s health continued to decline. His imprisonment prevented him from receiving the urgent medical care he desperately needed. The irony is almost too bitter to bear: a man whose life was spent fighting for the rights of others was denied even the most basic right to life-saving medical attention. The state’s refusal to acknowledge his deteriorating condition speaks volumes about its disregard for the rights of disabled individuals.

When Sai Baba finally succumbed to his ailments, his death became a tragic symbol of the state’s failure. His life, once filled with purpose and resilience, was extinguished by the very forces he had fought against. Activists and supporters were quick to condemn the state’s negligence as “institutional murder,” pointing to the inhumane treatment Sai Baba endured during his years in prison. His death was not just a personal loss—it was a national tragedy that exposed the deep flaws in India’s justice system.

Sai Baba’s case is emblematic of a broader issue that plagues India today: the ease with which the state can label dissent as a threat to national security. In a world where the possession of certain literature or the expression of certain views can land one in prison, the very concept of liberty is at risk. The frightening reality is that the state’s power to suppress dissent has grown unchecked, and the line between activism and criminality has been blurred. This low threshold for determining threats invites a dangerous precedent—one that stifles free expression and fosters a culture of fear.

The lessons learned from Sai Baba’s ordeal are clear: the fight for justice must be relentless. The judiciary, while bound to uphold the law, must also act as a bulwark against state overreach. Laws like the UAPA must be scrutinized, and reforms must be introduced to ensure that the state’s power to prosecute is tempered by accountability. If the state is allowed to act unilaterally, trampling on the rights of its citizens without facing consequences, then the very notion of justice becomes an illusion.

Sai Baba’s death has sparked a call for change. His story has become a rallying cry for activists, scholars, and citizens alike who demand accountability from the state. The battle for liberty does not end with his death—it is just beginning. His legacy is a reminder that the fight for justice is not just about individuals; it is about reclaiming the rights of all citizens in the face of unchecked state power.

The tale of G. Sai Baba is a heart breaking illustration of the struggle for liberty in an oppressive system. It serves as a stark warning of the dangers that arise when the state is given unchecked power to determine who is a threat and who is not. His life and death stand as a powerful testament to the resilience of those who fight for justice, and a clarion call for a society that values individual rights above all else.

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