A judge of the Supreme Court has recused himself from presiding over a bail plea by lawyer and activist Surendra Gadling related to the 2016 Surajgarh iron ore mine arson case. Justice Atul S. Chandurkar, part of a bench led by Justice J.K. Maheshwari, stepped back from the case during the hearing. This follows a prior recusal by Justice M.M. Sundresh in the same matter.
The case is anticipated to be reassigned to an appropriate Bench following the recusal, in accordance with the Chief Justice of India’s directives. Gadling had filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) challenging the denial of his bail plea under Section 21(4) of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act. Justices Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi had previously adjourned the case, hinting at potential timelines to prevent trial delays.
The incident in question dates back to 2016 when 76 trucks carrying iron ore from the Surajgarh mines in Maharashtra were set on fire. Prosecutors allege Gadling’s involvement in a broader conspiracy with Maoist operatives and his connection to the Bhima Koregaon-Elgaar Parishad violence in Pune in December 2017. Gadling, a criminal lawyer with over 25 years of experience, refutes these claims, asserting his innocence due to lack of substantial evidence against him.
The Supreme Court had previously issued notice on his plea and requested a response from the Maharashtra government. The proceedings faced delays due to various factors, including response filings and document translations.
