The Supreme Court has postponed activist Surendra Gadling’s bail plea in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist case to September 17. Gadling has been in jail for over six years, with charges still not framed.
New Delhi: On September 3, the Supreme Court postponed the bail plea of activist Surendra Gadling, who is accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist conspiracy case, to September 17.
A bench comprising Justices I.K. Maheshwari and K. Vinod Chandran deferred the matter after Additional Solicitor General S.Y. Raju requested more time. Senior Advocate Anand Grover, representing Gadling, opposed Raju’s plea for adjournment, highlighting that the case has been pending since 2023.
Elgar Parishad-Maoist Links Case| Supreme Court To Hear Bail Plea Of Surendra Gadling On September 3
Grover told the court,
“Gadling has spent over six years behind bars, with charges not even framed in the case.”
Chief Justice B.R. Gavai had scheduled the matter for hearing after being informed on August 26 that Justice M.M. Sundresh had recused himself from hearing the bail plea. Earlier, a bench comprising Justices Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh was supposed to hear the matter.
On August 8, Grover had approached Chief Justice Gavai for an early hearing, citing his client Gadling’s long incarceration. “The bail plea has been adjourned 11 times in the Supreme Court,” Grover added.
Before this, on March 27, the top court had deferred the bail hearing of Gadling and activist Jyoti Jagtap in the same case.
The court also postponed a petition filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) challenging the bail granted to activist Mahesh Raut. Raut had received bail from the Bombay High Court, but the order was stayed after the NIA sought a stay to challenge it before the apex court.
Gadling has been accused of providing support to Maoists and allegedly conspiring with several co-accused. He was booked under multiple provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The prosecution claimed that Gadling shared secret information about government activities and maps of certain areas with underground Maoist rebels.
According to the charges, Gadling reportedly asked Maoists to oppose the operation of Surjagarh mines and incited several locals to join the movement. He is also implicated in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, which relates to allegedly provocative speeches delivered during the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017.
Police claimed that these speeches triggered violence the following day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial in Pune district.
The high court had stated that Jagtap was an active member of the Kabir Kala Manch (KKM) group. During their stage performance at the Elgar Parishad conclave, the group reportedly gave “not only aggressive, but highly provocative slogans.”
According to the NIA, the KKM is a front organisation of the Communist Party of India (Maoist). The high court had dismissed the appeal filed by the activist-cum-singer challenging a February 2022 order of a special court that refused her bail.
The 2017 Elgar Parishad conclave was held at Shaniwarwada, a 16th-century palace-fort located in the heart of Pune city.
Background:
The Supreme Court has been hearing the bail plea of advocate Surendra Gadling in connection with the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case. Gadling has been in custody for over six years and faces allegations of supporting Maoist activities, conspiring with co-accused, and sharing confidential government information with underground Maoist groups.
He has been charged under multiple provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The case also involves activist Jyoti Jagtap, who is an active member of the Kabir Kala Manch (KKM) group, which allegedly delivered provocative speeches during the Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune on December 31, 2017.
Authorities claim these speeches triggered violence the following day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial. The NIA has stated that KKM serves as a front organisation for the Communist Party of India (Maoist).
Jagtap’s appeal challenging a February 2022 special court order denying her bail was dismissed by the high court.
The Elgar Parishad conclave was held at Shaniwarwada, an 18th-century palace-fort in central Pune. The Supreme Court has repeatedly adjourned Gadling’s bail plea, with senior advocate Anand Grover noting that it has been postponed 11 times.
Previous hearings also included petitions by the NIA challenging bail granted to activist Mahesh Raut, who received bail from the Bombay High Court but faced a stay from the NIA pending appeal in the apex court.
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