The authorities have charged him under various sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The prosecution claims that Gadling provided secret details about government actions and shared maps of specific locations with underground Maoist groups.
New Delhi: Today, 27th March, The Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing on the bail plea of advocate Surendra Gadling and activist Jyoti Jagtap, both arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, by two weeks.
A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal also postponed the hearing on the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) petition challenging the bail granted to activist Mahesh Raut.
Raut had received bail from the Bombay High Court, but after the NIA sought a stay on the decision, the order was put on hold to allow the agency to challenge it before the Supreme Court.
Allegations Against Surendra Gadling
Surendra Gadling has been accused of helping Maoists and conspiring with other accused individuals, including some who are absconding.
The authorities have charged him under various sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The prosecution claims that Gadling provided secret details about government actions and shared maps of specific locations with underground Maoist groups.
Additionally, he is accused of urging Maoists to oppose the Surjagarh mining project and allegedly encouraging locals to join the movement.
Gadling is also linked to the Elgar Parishad case, which revolves around alleged provocative speeches at the Elgar Parishad event held in Pune on December 31, 2017. The police claim that these speeches led to violent clashes near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial the next day.
Accusations Against Jyoti Jagtap
The Bombay High Court had previously stated that Jyoti Jagtap was actively involved in the Kabir Kala Manch (KKM) group. The court noted that during their stage play at the Elgar Parishad event, the group chanted highly provocative and aggressive slogans.
The high court said, “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.”
The NIA claims that KKM is a front organization for the Communist Party of India.
Jagtap had earlier appealed against a February 2022 order from a special court that denied her bail. However, the high court rejected her appeal.
Elgar Parishad Case
The Bhima Koregaon case after an event organized by leftist and Urban Naxal groups in Pune on December 31, 2017. The event allegedly aimed to incite Dalits and other communities, leading to widespread violence in Bhima Koregaon and other parts of Maharashtra. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has implicated 15 individuals in this case, charging them with various offenses, including plotting terrorist activities and raising funds for sophisticated weapons.
The accused in the Bhima Koregaon case face multiple charges under various legal provisions. For instance, academician Anand Teltumbde is accused of tampering with evidence. Other individuals charged by the NIA include Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson, Surendra Gadling, Shoma Sen, Mahesh Raut, P. Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira, Sudha Bharadwaj, Gautam Navlakha, Hany Babu, Ramesh Gaichor, Jyoti Jagtap, and Surendra Gorkhe.
The draft chargesheet also mentioned Father Stan Swamy, who has since passed away, leading to a cessation of proceedings against him. Several other accused individuals remain absconding.
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