BackLAW
Eight years in jail without trial: HC grants bail to lawyer Surendra Gadling in Elgar Parishad case
The Bombay High Court granted bail to lawyer Surendra Gadling in the Elgar Parishad case after eight years of undertrial detention. He remains jailed in a separate Surjagarh arson case bail plea before the Supreme Court. The development follows earlier bail denials and a transfer of the Elgar Parishad probe to the NIA.
Why It Matters
This marks a significant development in a high-profile terrorism-related case, highlighting issues surrounding prolonged detention of undertrials and the handling of coordinated investigations across agencies.
Timeline
11 Events
Gadling’s Surjagarh bail plea pending before Supreme Court (May 4, 2026)
May 4, 2026
Gadling’s bail plea in the Surjagarh arson case, linked to the December 2016 incident, remains pending before the Supreme Court.
Gadling granted bail in Elgar Parishad case (May 4, 2026)
May 4, 2026
The High Court grants bail to Surendra Gadling after eight years as an undertrial; he remains in custody in relation to a separate case. All 15 surviving accused in the Elgar Parishad case have been granted bail on various grounds such as medical conditions, prolonged incarceration, and parity.
Death of Stan Swamy in custody (2021)
2021
Jesuit priest Stan Swamy, an accused in the case, died in custody in 2021 while awaiting bail.
NIA takes over the Elgar Parishad probe (January 2021)
January 2021
The investigation was transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in January 2021.
Bail pleas rejected in Pune (November 2019)
November 2019
Gadling's bail plea was rejected by a Pune sessions court; the decision was later upheld by the High Court and the Supreme Court.
Higher courts uphold bail rejection (2019)
2019
The High Court and the Supreme Court later upheld the Pune sessions court's bail rejection.
Gadling arrested by Pune Anti-Terrorism Squad (June 2018)
June 2018
Surendra Gadling was arrested by the Pune Anti-Terrorism Squad in June 2018 and was booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code for alleged links with banned Maoist groups.
Case registered by Pune police (Elgar Parishad investigation) (January 2018)
January 2018
The case was originally registered by Pune police in January 2018 based on a complaint alleging provocative speeches and performances at the Elgar Parishad event; the probe was later transferred to the NIA in January 2021.
Violence at Bhima Koregaon following Elgar Parishad (January 1, 2018)
January 1, 2018
Violence broke out the day after the Elgar Parishad event between groups with saffron flags and those attending the commemorations; one person was killed and several injured. Investigators claim speeches at Elgar Parishad triggered the clashes and that the event had Maoist backing.
Elgar Parishad event held at Shaniwar Wada (December 31, 2017)
December 31, 2017
The Elgar Parishad event was held to mark the 200th anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon battle; cultural performances and speeches focused on anti-caste and anti-communal themes. The NIA alleges the event was funded by the banned CPI (Maoist) as part of a larger conspiracy to incite unrest.
Surjagarh arson case: 76 iron ore transport vehicles burned (December 2016)
December 2016
The article notes Gadling is involved in a bail plea in the Surjagarh arson case, linked to the December 2016 burning of 76 vehicles transporting iron ore.