Today, On 8th August, In the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, Chief Justice Gavai has agreed to an early hearing of advocate Surendra Gadling’s bail plea. The Supreme Court aims to expedite the process after repeated adjournments.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court acknowledged the repeated adjournments regarding the bail plea of advocate Surendra Gadling, who is implicated in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, and assured an expedited listing of the matter.
A bench led by Chief Justice B R Gavai, along with Justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria, heard the appeal from Gadling’s counsel, senior advocate Anand Grover, who pointed out that his client has been imprisoned for “6.5 years.”
Grover noted,
“The bail plea has been adjourned 11 times in the Supreme Court.”
In response, the Chief Justice stated,
“We will list it.”
Previously, on March 27, Justices M M Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal had postponed the bail hearing for Gadling and activist Jyoti Jagtap, who was also arrested in connection with the case.Additionally, they deferred the National Investigation Agency’s petition seeking to challenge the bail granted to activist Mahesh Raut.
The Bombay High Court had approved Raut’s bail, but the NIA subsequently requested a stay on that order to contest it in the Supreme Court.
Gadling faces accusations of aiding Maoists and allegedly conspiring with various co-defendants, some of whom are currently absconding. He has been charged under several sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Indian Penal Code.
The prosecution alleges that Gadling provided sensitive information about government operations and maps to underground Maoist groups, urged Maoists to oppose the Surjagarh mines, and incited local residents to join the movement.
His involvement also ties to the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, which centers around alleged inflammatory speeches delivered at the Elgar Parishad event in Pune on December 31, 2017.
Authorities claim these speeches incited violence the following day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial.
The high court had noted that Jagtap is an active member of the Kabir Kala Manch group, which reportedly delivered not only aggressive but also highly provocative slogans during its performance at the Elgar Parishad conclave.
The court expressed,
“We are of the considered opinion that there are reasonable grounds for believing the allegations or accusations of the NIA against the appellant having conspired, attempted, advocated and abetted the commission of a terrorist act as prima facie true.”
According to the NIA, the KKM serves as a front for the Communist Party of India. The high court had dismissed Jagtap’s appeal against a February 2022 decision by a special court that denied her bail.
The Elgar Parishad conclave of 2017 took place at Shaniwarwada, an 18th-century palace-fort situated in the center of Pune.