Supreme Court to hear Surendra Gadling bail plea next week after delays
The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear next week the bail plea of advocate Surendra Gadling, an accused in the 2018 Elgar Parishad-Maoist links
The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear next week the bail plea of advocate Surendra Gadling, an accused in the 2018 Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana gave the assurance after senior advocate Kapil Sibal sought an urgent listing, saying Gadling had been in jail for seven-and-a-half years. Read Full Story Sibal told the court that notice on Gadling's bail plea was first issued in 2023, but the matter had seen recusals. The bench then said, "Immediately we will list. In the next week or so." On August 8, 2025, senior advocate Anand Grover, appearing for Gadling, had urged the then Chief Justice of India BR Gavai for an early hearing, citing his client's long incarceration.
"The bail plea has been adjourned 11 times in the Supreme Court," Grover had said. Earlier, on March 27 last year, the top court had deferred the bail hearing of Gadling and activist Jyoti Jagtap in the case. It had also deferred the petition filed by the Investigation Agency challenging the bail granted to activist Mahesh Raut. Raut was granted bail by the Bombay High Court, but the order was stayed after the NIA moved the apex court against it. Gadling has been accused of providing aid to Maoists and of allegedly conspiring with various co-accused, including those absconding in the case. He was booked under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the then IPC.
The prosecution has claimed that Gadling provided secret information about government activities and maps of certain areas to underground Maoist rebels. It has also been alleged that he asked Maoists to oppose the operation of Surjagarh mines and instigated several locals to join the movement. Gadling is also involved in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case linked to the alleged provocative speeches delivered at the Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune on December 31, 2017. Police claimed the speeches triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial in Pune district. The Bombay High Court had said Jagtap was an active member of the Kabir Kala Manch group, which during its stage play at the Elgar Parishad conclave raised not only aggressive but highly provocative slogans.
According to the NIA, the Kabir Kala Manch is a front organisation of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist). The Bombay High Court had dismissed the appeal filed by the activist-cum-singer against a February 2022 order of a special court refusing her bail. The 2017 Elgar Parishad conclave was held at Shaniwarwada, an 18th-century palace-fort in the heart of Pune city. The latest hearing in the Supreme Court will now focus on Gadling's bail plea, which his lawyers have said has been repeatedly delayed. Ends
The BriefWire