New Delhi, Dec 24 (IANS) The following is the timeline of the prosecution of Binayak Sen, a doctor and human rights activist convicted for sedition and conspiracy by a Chhattisgarh court and awarded a life term Friday.
May 14, 2007: Binayak Sen arrested in Bilaspur on charges of carrying messages between Piyush Guha, a businessman, and Narayan Sanyal, a Maoist ideologue.
May 15: Sen remanded to judicial custody.
May 25: Chhattisgarh government claims he is a threat to state security. Bail is not granted.
May-June: Human rights activists rally across India in Sen’s support.
Aug 3: Police file chargesheets against Sen under the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Satyabhama Dubey.
Dec 10: Two-judge Supreme Court bench denies Sen’s bail petition.
Dec 31: Sen awarded R.R. Keithan Gold Medal by the Indian Academy of Social Sciences in recognition of ‘his outstanding contribution to the advancement of science of Nature-Man-Society for improving the quality of life of the poor, the downtrodden and the oppressed people of Chhattisgarh’.
March 15-April 11, 2008: Sen kept in solitary confinement. Prison authorities claim it is for his security.
April 21: Sen awarded Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights by the Global Health Council.
May 30: Trial begins in Raipur.
Aug 11: Second bail petition filed in Chhattisgarh High Court in Bilaspur.
Aug 14: First hearing on the bail. Hearing adjourned.
Dec 2: Bail petition dismissed.
Dec 3: Supplementary chargesheet filed, listing 47 additional witnesses.
May 4, 2009: Supreme Court issues notice to Chhattisgarh government questioning Sen’s detention and demanding its response in two weeks. The court also asks for the best medical care to be provided for Sen’s heart condition.
May 25: Sen released on bail by Supreme Courts vacation bench of Justice Markandey Katju and Justice Deepak Verma.
Nov 23-26: Trial resumes in Raipur sessions court.
Late August-early September, 2010: Supreme Court directs Chhattisgarh government to complete presenting its evidence against Sen by end-September.
Sep 28: Prosecution finishes presenting evidence.
Nov 25-26: Defence presents 12 witnesses along with supporting documents.
Dec 24: Raipur Sessions Court delivers verdict, finding Binayak Sen, Narayan Sanyal and Piyush Guha guilty of sedition and conspiracy. Sen sentenced to life term.
