The Bombay High Court has granted bail to former Delhi University (DU) professor Hany Babu. Babu, accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence case, was arrested in 2020. He spent 1,955 days in custody before his release order.
A division bench comprising Justices A S Gadkari and Ranjitsinha R Bhonsale ordered Babu’s release. He must furnish a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh , along with sureties. This decision comes five years after his initial arrest.
Arrest and Allegations
Hany Babu was arrested on July 28, 2020 . Authorities charged him with alleged links to a Maoist conspiracy. He also faced accusations of involvement in a plot to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Babu was further accused of inciting caste-based violence. Speeches delivered on December 31, 2017 , allegedly led to violent clashes. These events occurred the following day in Bhima Koregaon and nearby villages in Maharashtra.
Additionally, Babu faced charges under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act ( UAPA ). He was also accused of being part of a committee that supported G.N. Saibaba, a fellow academic. Saibaba received a life sentence for an alleged “Maoist connection.”
Previous Bail Rejections
Babu’s family and legal team reported difficulties in securing medical treatment. In 2021, they accused authorities of denying him care for an eye infection, pain, and vision loss.
A trial court in Maharashtra rejected Babu’s bail plea in February 2022 . The Bombay High Court later upheld this decision in September 2022 . Earlier this year, Babu withdrew a plea from the Supreme Court, citing changed circumstances. He subsequently filed a new bail plea with the Bombay High Court, which has now been granted.
Family’s Perspective
Babu’s wife, Jenny Rowena, previously spoke about his prolonged detention. She stated a university professor was in jail for years without a trial. Rowena highlighted that charges were based on documents found on his computer. She claimed police seized these documents in a raid before his arrest without following proper procedures.