Binayak Sen found guilty of sedition, treason

Human rights activist and pediatrician Dr Binayak Sen has been found guilty of sedition by a Chhattisgarh court for espousing the cause of Maoist rebels and helping them.

The Raipur sessions court found him guilty of waging war against India on Friday. Three others were also convicted.

He is senior member of the human rights organization People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).

“This is completely irrational and this is a judgement that I do not believe in. There was not a single piece of evidence for this kind of conviction. We will take whatever steps available to us,” said Ilina Sen, wife of Binayak Sen.
She said she hopes that justice will finally prevail.

Dr 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.

Sen was unable to attend the ceremony in Washington that year but his wife, Dr. Ilina Sen, received the honor on his behalf.

The Chhattisgarh police claimed that he was helping the Maoists and also acting as their courier.

Maoist advocate and ideologue Narayan Sanyal has also been declared guilty of sedition. Sen was accused of carrying letters for Sanyal.

In 2008, he was awarded the prestigious Jonathan Mann award for Global Health and Human Rights.