The Supreme Court on Wednesday set September 17 as the date of hearing the bail plea of the Bhima Koregaon violence accused and lawyer Surendra Gadling and gave a new deadline to a case that has seen a series of delays. Surendra Gadling, who has been in custody for almost six and a half years, had sought the apex court to grant him bail concerning a 2016 arson case after the Bombay High Court declined his petition in January 2023.
It was heard in a court of justices, JK Maheshwari and K Vinod Chandran, after another bench presided by Justice MM Sundresh recused itself from hearing the case on August 26, without giving any particular reason. The case is about the personal liberty of a citizen and, as senior advocate Anand Grover, who represents Gadling, noted, even after a notice was issued on October 10, 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has not submitted its response. He added that even now, in March 2024, when time is sought, no response has been provided till now, and the case remains in deep uncertainty.
The NIA, through Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, requested more time to submit its answer. The bench, though, admitted that there had been a delay and gave two weeks more time. The justices reiterated that it will be discussed now on September 17.
In the 2016 case, Gadling is alleged to have planned a terrorist attack by setting fire to 80 iron ore-carrying vehicles in the Surajgarh mines, Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. This is coupled with Gadling also being imprisoned in the wider Bhima Koregaon case, in which he is charged with association with outlawed groups.
The matter had previously been fixed in a Sundesh-led bench in November 2025, but on urgent mentioning to CJI Bhushan R Gavai, the case was now fixed to be heard.
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