Gadchiroli Court grants bail to Surendra Gadling in 2016 case to attend mother's funeral rites

After Bombay High Court's order granting temporary bail, Gadchiroli Sessions Court on Thursday issued a release warrant of lawyer and activist Surendra Gadling in the 2016 Surajgarh arson case (State of Maharashtra Through P.S.O. Ettapali v. Surendra Gadling)..Gadling is also an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case of 2018 which is being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).He had been granted temporary bail from August 13 to August 21, 2021 to attend mother's funeral rites by the Principal Bench. .Bombay High Court grants temporary bail to Bhima Koregaon accused Surendra Gadling.Citing humanitarian grounds, the Court observed that "in the prevailing social construct, the first death anniversary of an immediate family member has an element of religious, personal and emotional significance."The Bench also noted that Gadling had not been able to participate in any of the rites in connection with the death of his mother."Viewed through this prism, we do not find the prayer of the appellant (Gadling) unjustifiable" the order states..The Bench directed Gadling to furnish a bail bond of Rs. 50000/- with one or two sureties with the Special NIA Court of Mumbai.Gadling was also directed to report to the Nagpur police station on August 16 and 19, 2021 and surrender to the Taloja prison by 6 pm on August 21, 2021..In view of such an order of the High Court, the Principal Sessions Judge issued a warrant of release to the Taloja Central Prison after accepting his bail bond thereby completing all procedural requirements for his release..Gadling will be released from prison tomorrow morning. .In December 2016, around 80 vehicles engaged in transporting iron-ore from Surajgarh mines in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra were allegedly set on fire by Maoists..After this, Gadchiroli police registered an FIR for offences punishable under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 341, 342 (wrongful restraint and constraint), 435 (mischief by fire explosive), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult), 506 (criminal intimidation), 143, 147 (punishment for rioting), 148, 149 (rioting in unlawful assembly) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC, Sections 16, 18, 20 and 23 (punishment for terrorist activities) of the UAPA and other provisions of the Arms Act..Gadling who was arraigned as an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case which was also allegedly organised by Maoists, was implicated for the Gadchiroli incident and then charged with UAPA offences..[Read roznama (in Marathi)]