The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Maharashtra government to ensure that virtual conferencing facilities work smoothly during hearings in the 2016 Gadchiroli arson case, where human-rights lawyer Surendra Gadling is an accused.
A bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi passed the direction after senior advocate Anand Grover complained that the virtual conference system being used for Gadling’s appearance was not functioning properly.
The bench noted the grievance and told the State to ensure effective connectivity. “The accused is permitted to appear through VC but the VC is not duly functioning. The State shall make an endeavour for efficient functioning of the VC whereby the accused may be in a position to appear through VC,” the court observed.
During the hearing, Grover argued that Gadling had been unfairly “branded” because he had represented clients in Naxal-related cases. He said the trial court’s own records showed that the delay in commencing the trial was attributable to the State.
He also pointed out that the prosecution’s primary evidence is electronic and overlaps with the Bhima Koregaon case, yet copies of this material had not been supplied to the defence.
Opposing the claims, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju told the court that an application seeking transfer of records from the Bhima Koregaon case was pending before the trial court and Gadling had not filed a response.
The Supreme Court directed Gadling to file his reply within one week and instructed the trial court to decide the application by January 15, 2026. The matter will next be heard on January 21, 2026.
On September 24, the bench had taken note of Gadling’s prolonged custody — six years and seven months — in the case, and asked the prosecution to explain why the trial had not progressed.
“What is the reason of delay in trial? It may be explained in brief by the prosecution agency,” the bench had said.
According to the prosecution, Maoist rebels set ablaze 76 iron-ore transport vehicles at Surjagarh mines in Gadchiroli on December 25, 2016. Gadling, a Nagpur-based lawyer who has represented several accused in Naxal-related cases, is alleged to have provided support to Maoist groups and conspired with co-accused and absconding suspects.
He faces charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code for allegedly supplying confidential government information, maps, and instigating local resistance against the Surjagarh mining project.
Gadling is also an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case involving claims of Maoist links and alleged provocative speeches at a December 31, 2017 event in Pune.
