The Supreme Court postponed the hearing on advocate Surendra Gadling’s bail plea in the 2016 Surjagarh iron ore mine arson case to next week.
A bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal postponed the matter as additional solicitor general Raja Thakare, representing the Maharashtra government, was unavailable.
Senior advocate Anand Grover, representing Gadling, urged the bench to prioritize the matter and place it at the top of the board.On October 10, 2023, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the state government, requesting a response within four weeks.
On January 31, 2023, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court denied Gadling’s bail, stating the accusations against him appeared prima facie true.On December 25, 2016, Maoist rebels reportedly set fire to 76 vehicles used to transport iron ore from the Surjagarh mines in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli.
Gadling is accused of aiding the Maoists and conspiring with several co-accused, including those who are absconding.He was booked under the various provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, and the IPC and the prosecution claimed Gadling provided secret information about government activities and maps of certain areas to underground Maoist rebels.
He reportedly 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, which pertains to alleged provocative speeches at the Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune on December 31, 2017.
The police claim these speeches incited violence the following day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial in Pune district.