The Supreme Court Wednesday asked the Maharashtra government to explain the delay in the trial of the 2016 arson case in which alleged Maoists set fire to 76 trucks transporting iron ore from Surajgarh mines in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli. A bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi was hearing the bail plea of accused Surendra Gadling who contended that he has been in custody for over six years but the trial is yet to commence.

“Why is the trial not going on? Because if you keep a person in custody without trial… for how many years?” Justice Maheshwari asked Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the State. The law officer said the delay was because Gadling filed a plea seeking discharge and was insisting he will not argue it unless allowed to come to court, which is

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