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Binayak Sen provided safe hideouts to Naxals: Ch'garh govt tells SC

Last updated on: April 6, 2011 22:57 IST

The Chhattisgarh government on Wednesday opposed the petition of rights activist Binayak Sen in the Supreme Court seeking bail and stay on his life term for his links with Maoists saying he was involved in providing safe hideouts and logistic support to hardcore Naxalites.

"Sen provides active support and co-ordinates in spreading the base of the Communist Party of India-Maoist in the country. Apart from providing logistic support, he exchanges information and material directly and indirectly with the Naxalites in the area of Chhattisgarh, Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa and propagates Naxal ideology," the affidavit filed by the state government said.

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Binayak Sen provided safe hideouts to Naxals: Ch'garh govt tells SC

Last updated on: April 6, 2011 22:57 IST

The Chhattisgarh government filed its affidavit through advocate Atul Jha in response to the notice issued to it on March 11 by the court on the petition by Sen challenging the rejection of his bail by the high court on February 10.

It alleged Sen, 61, was helping the Naxalites in building urban network and sympathisers and visited the co-accused Narayan Sanyal 33 times in the jail.

A professional doctor, who studied in Christian Medical College, Vellore, Sen has sought bail contending the trial court has erred in convicting him as there was no substantial evidence against him.

Binayak Sen provided safe hideouts to Naxals: Ch'garh govt tells SC

Last updated on: April 6, 2011 22:57 IST

Sen, vice president of People's Union of Civil Liberties, was convicted for sedition and sentenced to life imprisonment along with Naxal ideologue Narayan Sanyal and Kolkata businessman Piyush Guha for colluding with Naxals to establish a network to fight the state.

Human rights and social activists have described Sen's conviction and sentence as "politically motivated."

The state government in its affidavit said though Sen is a doctor, during the search of his house, neither any medical equipment was found nor any medical books, medicines, stethoscope, drugs, patient admission book, prescription book, patient discharge book.

Binayak Sen provided safe hideouts to Naxals: Ch'garh govt tells SC

Last updated on: April 6, 2011 22:57 IST

Medical degree of Sen is a just a cover for him to perpetuate the Naxal activities. Under the garb of being a doctor and on the pretext of treatment, he is basically providing help to hardcore Naxalites and its cadre," the affidavit said.

"It is submitted the petitioner is a paediatrician. What treatment was the paediatrician petitioner advising to geriatrician co-accused Narayan Sanyal in his 33 visits to jail is open secret It is submitted that the petitioner has not met any prisoner at the Central Jail, Durg.

Similarly, the petitioner has not met with any other undertrial prisoner in Central Jail, Bilaspur, apart from the Naxalite leader," the affidavit said while giving the list of 33 visits made by Sen in Raipur Central Jail.

Binayak Sen provided safe hideouts to Naxals: Ch'garh govt tells SC

Last updated on: April 6, 2011 22:57 IST

A file photograph of Dr Binayak Sen's wife Ilina and daughter Pranhita

The Chhattisgarh government said Sen's deep links with Sanyal as well as other hardcore Naxalites such as Prafull Jha, Malti KS Priya, Shankar Singh, Amita Shrivastava since 1999 has been established from the records retrieved and proved from his CPU. He was allegedly involved in issuing press releases for Naxalites.

The state government said Sen helped Naxal leaders, including Sanyal, in arranging accomodation in Raipur and through his wife Elina Sen also helped open bank accounts of hardcore Naxalites Shankar Singh and Amita Shrivastava.

"To camouflage the identity of hardcore Naxalites, Sen and his wife showed them as employees of their alleged charitable organisation Rupanter," it claimed.