Mumbai: In a significant development in the long-running Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad case, the Bombay High Court on 4 May 2026 granted bail to lawyer and activist Surendra Gadling after over eight years of pre-trial incarceration. Gadling, who was arrested in June 2018, was the last remaining accused in custody among the original 16 individuals charged under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
A division bench comprising Justices Ajay Gadkari and Kamal Khata allowed the bail plea, citing prolonged incarceration and the principle of parity with co-accused who had already been granted relief. The court underscored that the trial in the case had not yet commenced, with discharge applications still pending and charges yet to be formally framed. Emphasising the importance of personal liberty, the bench observed that extended detention of undertrial prisoners without the start of trial constitutes a valid ground for granting bail.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is handling the case, opposed Gadling’s bail plea. It pointed to his alleged involvement in a separate case, the 2016 Surajgarh arson incident in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district. In that case, Gadling is accused of conspiring to set fire to 76 vehicles transporting iron ore. Despite these objections, the High Court granted bail in the Bhima Koregaon matter under conditions similar to those imposed on other accused in the case.
However, Gadling’s release from prison is not immediate. He continues to remain in judicial custody due to the pending Surajgarh arson case, where his bail plea is currently awaiting adjudication before the Supreme Court. Notably, several co-accused in the Surajgarh case have already been granted bail.
The Bhima Koregaon case stems from violence that erupted on 1 January 2018 near Pune during the bicentenary commemoration of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon. Investigators alleged that provocative speeches made at the Elgar Parishad event held a day earlier incited the violence. Authorities later claimed that the event was linked to a broader Maoist conspiracy, leading to the arrest of activists, academics, and lawyers, including Gadling.
The case has drawn widespread attention over the years due to concerns about prolonged pre-trial detention, the application of stringent anti-terror laws, and delays in judicial proceedings. Many of the accused secured bail on grounds such as deteriorating health, lack of progress in trial, and parity with co-accused. With the High Court’s latest order, all 15 surviving accused in the Bhima Koregaon case have now secured bail.
