Binayak Sen to be released from jail today

Human Rights activist and physician, Binayak Sen, who was granted bail by the Supreme Court on Friday, will be released from a Raipur jail on Monday.

The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to Sen, jailed for his alleged Maoist links but hailed by many as a person working tirelessly for the down-trodden.

The apex court said Sen was not guilty of sedition, bringing jubilation among the supporters of Sen.

The bail plea hearing was deferred from Monday last to Friday because the Chhattisgarh government had asked for two days’ time in the case.

Earlier, The adjournment had come as an anti-climax to the expectations on Monday as the family of Sen along with human rights activists and even members of the European Union, which is monitoring the case, had gathered for the Supreme Court decision on the bail plea.

On Feb 10, the Chhattisgarh High Court had struck down the plea following which Sen?s counsel and family had moved the apex court.

Hearing the plea on Mar 11, the apex court had issued a notice to the Chhattisgarh government, asking it to file a response within four weeks.

The state government in its reply opposed Sen’s bail plea, saying he had deep links with hardcore Maoists and provides them with active support to spread their network.

Senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani appeared on behalf of Sen. The bail plea has been sought on grounds that the trial court convicted him erroneously despite no substantial evidence.

The petition also says that Sen has already spent two years in prison after his arrest and should be granted bail while his appeal is pending at the High Court.

Sen’s trial is closely monitored by human rights activists the world over while a delegation of the European Union also came to India to see the judicial process.

Forty Nobel laureates from 12 countries earlier appealed for Binayak Sen?s release.

The Nobel laureates, including Ventkatraman Ramakrishnan, had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, appealing for Sen?s release and called Sen an ?exceptional, courageous and selfless colleague, dedicated to helping those in India who are least able to help themselves.”

Sen was sentenced for sedition by a Sessions court in Raipur on Dec 24. His family had moved the Chhattisgarh High Court against the life sentence.

Sen, who was arrested in May 2007 from Bilaspur, was detained for two years, and released on bail in May 2009.

In 2008, he was awarded the Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights by the Global Health Council.