free them all

Bombay High Court Asks Maharashtra Govt If Bhima Koregaon Accused Surendra Gadling Can Use Jail Computer To Review Evidence

26/03/2026

Live Law / by Narsi Benwal

The Bombay High Court on Thursday sought to know from the Maharashtra Government if it could permit Surendra Gadling, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad case, to access the computer installed in the Taloja Central Prison to review the evidence against him.
A division bench of Justice Ajay Gadkari and Justice Kamal Khata while refusing Gadling to use his own laptop while in prison to review evidence, clarified that it can consider permitting him to access the computer in the prison, as the very issue would affect cases in future.
Read more

by Bar & Bench / @barandbench (March 26, 2026)

Bombay High Court hears accused Surendra Gadling’s plea seeking computer access in jail to prepare for trial.

Gadling, an undertrial, says the case evidence is largely electronic, spread across 11 hard drives (around 40 TB).
Gadling’s counsel argued that similar access was granted to co-accused Mahesh Raut and Sagar Gorkhe. However the computer was non-functional

The State informed that a new computer has been installed in the jail office.

Court asked jail authorities how long can they let an undertrial access the computer and how long will it take for Gadling to review all the evidence.

The court asked Gadling to inform how long can he sit before the computer and asked prison authorities details whether NIA’s data can be accessed on it.

Next hearing on April 2.

Also read:
▪ Surendra Gadling and the justice that must be seen to be denied (Frontline / Feb 2026)
▪ What is Section 207 CrPC, an essential piece of the Bhima Koregaon case puzzle? (The Leaflet / Aug 2023)
▪ Taloja prison authorities not complying with order allowing computer use, court told (The Indian Express / April 2023)
▪ Provide access to computer, court tells jail authorities on plea made by Surendra Gadling and Arun Ferreira (The Indian Express / Jan 2023)
▪ Surendra Gadling’s Computer Was Attacked, Incriminating Documents Planted: Arsenal Consulting (The Wire / July 2021)
▪ Gadling in jail. Reason? As lawyer-activist he has been ‘unpleasant’ to India’s topcops (Counterview / Dec 2020)

▪ Video: The Prison Song of Surendra Gadling (The Wire / lyrics by Ramesh Gaychor)

hindi | 11min | 2021
51- year-old Gadling, a well-known criminal lawyer in Nagpur, was once a cultural activist, who sang songs of political resistance. The 11- minutes- long rendition tells you what it means to be incarcerated in Indian prisons. From food, water, to medical care, everything is a struggle, Gadling narrates. The song was recorded by one of Gadling’s colleagues and was made available to The Wire after obtaining his consent.
Watch video / Listen to the song