Kobad Ghandy acquitted of sedition charges

Suspected Maoist ideologue Kobad Ghandy was on Friday absolved of serious charges under stringent unlawful activities law for being a member of the banned CPI (Maoist) by a Delhi court.

However, he was held guilty of residing in New Delhi using fake identities.The court held him guilty under various provisions of the IPC, including sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating) and 468 (forgery) and awarded him jail term which he has already undergone during adjudication of the case.

It noted that 68-year-old Ghandy was in custody for almost six years and six months during the pendency of case.

“Ghandy is in custody since December 20, 2009, which is almost six years and six months. I, therefore, impose upon him a term of imprisonment already undergone by him,” the court, while imposing a fine of Rs 40,000 on him, said.

Ghandy, an alumnus of the prestigious Doon School and St Xavier’s College Mumbai, is facing prosecution in around 20 criminal and terror cases in different parts of the country.

Acquitting Ghandy of charges under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Additional Sessions Judge Reetesh Singh noted that “none of the evidence relied upon by prosecution have been found to be admissible in evidence by this court. The testimonies of prosecution witnesses suffer from infirmities.”