The matter is sub judice; the court has started the hearing. So I cannot comment on it. I can't be the judge, the court will be the judge...

But I am asking about the charge under which he was arrested. Not about the case details...

His was not arrested during my time. But he was arrested because of some logistical support he was giving the Maoists. I cannot enumerate what kind of support exactly. But to answer the question, in short, that's in the chargesheet.

Tell us about the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, 2005, under which he was arrested and denied bail.

This act was passed because it was logical and there was a strong reason. Most Naxals who would be arrested, get bail and jump bail and then vanish. So it had become very difficult. In Bihar, there was a person called Arvind who was arrested. And he was released on bail. After jumping bail, he has still not been arrested. And in Jehanabad, there was a jail break and he led that.

But how does this apply to Binayak Sen?

He was giving logistical support to the Maoists. Obviously, I have gone on record saying that I don't think it is the same as lifting a gun and shooting a person. But he did give support. He could be under some ideological compulsion. It doesn't necessarily make him a bad man. But under the law, he gets caught.

There is a lot of confusion, saying since he is a social worker he will not do such a thing.

That is not correct. Mao was a great poet. But Mao was also a person who believed in violence to come to power and sustain that power. They are two different things. According to Chinese literature, he was a great poet. So man is a complex being. He is not one-dimensional.

So this argument, that Binayak Sen was in social work so he cannot do this. He can be a social worker at one level, and a man who is very compassionate. At another level because of ideological compulsions and beliefs, he could help the Maoists. These two things can co-exist and it doesn't necessarily make Binayak Sen a bad person. But legally under this Act, he has technically got involved.

But the truth is he is still in jail...

That is not my concern. They have been fighting. He went to the Supreme Court. I cannot argue with the Supreme Court, it would be extremely contemptuous on my part.

And now the trial has started, they have moved to the high court. It's up to the court whether or not to give him bail.

Image: Activist Binayak Sen being taken to a court in Raipur in February.
Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Also read: Naxals, India's enemy within

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