10 TISS students booked for alleged unlawful event marking G N Saibaba’s death anniversary

In a development that has sparked debate within academic circles, the Mumbai Police on October 13 registered a First Information Report (FIR) against at least ten students of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) for allegedly holding an unauthorized event to mark the death anniversary of former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba.

According to officials, the students also raised slogans in support of former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid, both of whom remain in custody in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots case.

Police said the FIR was filed following a complaint by the TISS administration and includes charges related to promoting enmity between groups, causing prejudice to the nation, and unlawful assembly. “No prior permission was taken from the Mumbai Police for the event,” a senior officer confirmed, adding that notices have been served to those identified.

A senior TISS official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the event was held around 9 pm on Sunday and had escaped administrative attention as it took place on a holiday. “It was only after photos and videos surfaced on social media that we learned about it. Several posts tagged Mumbai Police and the Chief Minister’s Office, questioning how such an event was allowed,” the official said.

The institute has decided to issue show-cause notices to the students named in the FIR for violating institutional norms. “This is a standard procedure whenever the institute’s regulations are breached,” the official added.

Social media images from the event showed a small group of students standing beside a photograph of G N Saibaba, who had been arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) over alleged Maoist links. Saibaba, who spent nearly a decade in prison before being acquitted, died in Hyderabad on October 12 last year.