New Delhi, Feb 6 (Reporter) The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned the bail petitions filed by lawyer Surendra Gadling and activist Jyoti Jagtap in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case involving alleged links with banned Maoist groups. The court also deferred the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) appeal against the bail granted to co-accused Mahesh Raut. A bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Rajesh Bindal noted Senior Advocate Anand Grover's argument that Gadling was an advocate who represented "so-called Maoists." However, Justice Bindal remarked, "Not just representing but doing many other things." Grover countered, stating that these were mere allegations, which could be disproven. Justice Bindal expressed concerns about the delay in the trial, while Grover maintained that only preliminary proceedings under Section 207 of the CrPC were underway and sought additional time to present records. Senior Advocate Mihir Desai, representing Jagtap and Raut, urged the court to hear their matters on priority, citing the Bombay High Court's earlier bail grant to Raut, which had been stayed upon NIA's appeal. He further pointed out that two other accused, Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhawale, were granted bail last month by the Bombay High Court. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the NIA, termed the High Court's bail order "absolutely perverse." The bench decided to club all matters for a consolidated hearing, with the specific date to be issued in a future order. Gadling has been in custody since his arrest in July 2018, while Jagtap was arrested in September 2020. Out of the 16 accused, nine have received bail, while Father Stan Swamy died as an undertrial in July 2021...////...