NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the Maharashtra government over the prolonged pendency of trial proceedings against advocate Surendra Gadling in connection with the 2016 Surjagarh iron ore mine arson case, and inquired whether a person can be kept in custody as an undertrial for an extended period.

A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi asked Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the Maharashtra government, why the trial was not proceeding and for how many years a person could be kept in custody without trial.

ASG Raju told the bench that the delay in trial was not because of the prosecution but due to Gadling himself and he had filed a discharge application but was refusing to argue it unless he was permitted to be physically present in co

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