The Bombay High Court on Monday granted bail to activist Surendra Gadling in connection with the 2018 Bhima Koregaon case. However, Gadling will continue to remain in prison as he is currently in judicial custody in the 2016 Surajgarh arson case and has not yet secured bail in that matter.
Details of the Bail Order
A division bench of the Bombay High Court, consisting of Justices A.S. Gadkari and Shyam Chandak, pronounced the order. The court allowed Gadling's bail plea after considering the arguments advanced by his legal counsel. The bench noted that the investigation in the Bhima Koregaon case was substantially complete and that there was no likelihood of Gadling tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses if released on bail.
Conditions of Bail
The court imposed several conditions on Gadling's bail, including the furnishing of a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with two sureties. He has been directed to surrender his passport and report to the investigating officer once a month. Additionally, he is not permitted to leave the country without prior permission from the court.
Background of the Case
The Bhima Koregaon case pertains to alleged inflammatory speeches made at a gathering on January 1, 2018, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon. The event led to violence in the region, resulting in one death and several injuries. Gadling, a known activist, was arrested in August 2018 along with several other activists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly having Maoist links and conspiring to incite violence.
Other Co-Accused
Several other activists, including Varavara Rao, Sudha Bharadwaj, and Arun Ferreira, have also been arrested in the same case. Some of them have been granted bail by the courts earlier, while others continue to remain in custody.
Current Status
Despite the bail order in the Bhima Koregaon case, Gadling's release is unlikely as he is still in judicial custody in the 2016 Surajgarh arson case. In that case, he is accused of being involved in an incident of arson and violence in Rajasthan. His legal team is expected to file a separate bail application in that matter soon.
The Bombay High Court's decision is seen as a significant development in the long-pending case, which has drawn widespread attention from human rights groups and political activists. The court's observation that the investigation was nearly complete has been noted by legal experts as a key factor in granting bail.
