Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court on Wednesday deferred the hearing of advocate Surendra Gadling’s bail plea in connection with the 2016 Surjagarh iron ore mine arson case.
A bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and Aravind Kumar postponed the matter to the second week of January after Gadling’s counsel requested more time to review Maharashtra’s response.
The court had earlier, on October 10, 2023, issued a notice to the Maharashtra government, directing it to submit its reply within four weeks.
Gadling, a lawyer and activist, had previously been denied bail by the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on January 31, 2023. The High Court found that the accusations against him were prima facie true.
On December 25, 2016, Maoist insurgents allegedly torched 76 vehicles involved in iron ore transportation from the Surjagarh mines in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district. Gadling is accused of aiding the Maoists by providing them with logistical support and classified information.
According to the prosecution, Gadling conspired with co-accused, including absconding individuals, and supplied confidential maps and information about government operations to underground Maoist rebels. He is also alleged to have incited local communities to oppose the operation of the Surjagarh mines.
He has been charged under multiple sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Gadling is also a key accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case. The case pertains to alleged incendiary speeches made during the Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune on December 31, 2017. The speeches are said to have sparked violence the following day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial in Pune district.
The prosecution contends that Gadling played an instrumental role in the conspiracy, further strengthening allegations of his connection with banned Maoist groups.
Court’s adjournment gives Gadling’s legal team time to prepare a response to the state government’s arguments. His plea will be heard in January 2024, as the court deliberates on his request for bail amidst serious allegations linking him to anti-national activities.
This case underscores the complexities of balancing individual rights with national security concerns, a recurring theme in cases involving alleged Maoist connections.
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