The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted the Maharashtra government one week’s time to file documents in the 2016 Surjagarh iron ore mine arson case, in which advocate Surendra Gadling is accused. The court had earlier expressed concern over the delay in trial proceedings.
A bench comprising Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice Vijay Bishnoi was hearing Gadling’s plea challenging the January 2023 order of the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court, which had denied him bail.
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appearing for the Maharashtra government, sought additional time to file documents. Senior advocate Anand Grover, representing Gadling, opposed the request, pointing out that the state had already been given over four weeks.
Raju assured the bench that the state would file the required documents within a week if granted a final opportunity. The bench allowed the request, giving the state one week to file the documents and granting liberty to Gadling to submit a counter affidavit. The matter will be taken up after that.
On September 24, the apex court had sought clarification from the state over the reasons for the prolonged delay in the trial. The bench had remarked, “What is the reason of delay in trial? It may be explained in brief by the prosecution agency.”
Senior advocate Grover had then informed the court that Gadling had been incarcerated for more than six years and seven months without the trial being concluded.
The case stems from a December 25, 2016 incident when alleged Maoist insurgents set ablaze 76 vehicles transporting iron ore from the Surjagarh mines in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district.
Gadling, a Nagpur-based lawyer, is accused of aiding Maoists and conspiring with co-accused persons to oppose mining operations in the region. According to the prosecution, he provided secret information, including government activity details and maps, to underground Maoist operatives and encouraged locals to resist the Surjagarh mining project.
He was booked under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
