Today, On 29th August, The Supreme Court will hear on September 3 the bail plea of Surendra Gadling, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case. His counsel mentioned the matter after a judge recused, seeking urgent listing before the Bench.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court scheduled a hearing for advocate Surendra Gadling’s bail plea on September 3 in connection with the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case.
A bench consisting of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices NV Anjaria and Alok Aradhe was informed that Justice M M Sundresh recused himself from the case on August 26.
The CJI stated,
“The bail plea would come up for hearing on Wednesday,”
Previously, a bench of Justices Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh was set to hear the plea.
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Senior advocate Anand Grover brought the matter to CJI Gavai’s attention on August 8, requesting an expedited hearing due to Gadling’s over six years of incarceration.
Grover noted,
“The bail plea has been adjourned 11 times in the Supreme Court,”
Earlier, on March 27, the Supreme Court had postponed the bail hearings for Gadling and activist Jyoti Jagtap. It also deferred the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) petition challenging the bail granted to activist Mahesh Raut. Although Raut was granted bail by the Bombay High Court, the NIA sought a stay on this verdict to appeal it in the Supreme Court.
Gadling faces allegations of supporting Maoist activities and conspiring with various co-accused, some of whom are absconding.
He has been charged under multiple provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Indian Penal Code. The prosecution asserts that Gadling provided confidential information about government operations and maps to Maoist rebels.
He allegedly urged Maoists to resist the operation of Surjagarh mines and incited locals to participate in the movement.
Gadling is also implicated in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, which revolves around purportedly inflammatory speeches made at the Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune on December 31, 2017. Authorities claim these speeches incited violence the following day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial in Pune district.
The high court noted that Jagtap was an active member of the Kabir Kala Manch (KKM) group, which reportedly delivered aggressive and provocative slogans during its performance at the conclave.
According to the NIA, the KKM serves as a front for the Communist Party of India (Maoist). The high court had previously dismissed Jagtap’s appeal challenging a February 2022 decision by a special court that denied her bail.
The 2017 Elgar Parishad conclave took place at Shaniwarwada, an 18th-century palace-fort in the center of Pune.