The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended social activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand protection from arrest till January 31 in a case of alleged embezzlement of funds for a memorial to mark the carnage at Ahmedabad’s Gulbarg Society in the 2002 Godhra riots.
A three-judge Bench headed by Justice Anil R. Dave, during a short hearing, asked the CBI to respond on a petition filed by Ms. Setalvad in connection with a separate case on alleged violation under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
The court also agreed to hear a CBI petition, seeking the cancellation of the couple’s anticipatory bail granted by the Bombay High Court in August in the FCRA case.
Ms. Setalvad countered the CBI’s claims that she is not co-operating with the probe as plain “malicious.” The court has agreed to hear both petitions on January 21.
Ms. Setalvad, represented by senior advocate Kapil Sibal and advocate Aparna Bhat, sought a directive from the Supreme Court to expunge remarks made by the High Court in its order granting them bail in August.
In this, the High Court, though granting them bail, had said there was “prima facie” evidence to show there was some “misuse of amount” received from abroad.
Ms. Setalvad contended that the FCRA accusation is centered around consultancy fees received from contracts between Sabrang Communications and Publishing Pvt Ltd (SCPPL) and Ford Foundation.
She said that the High Court, without any proof and while granting them anticipatory bail, has harmed the prospects of a fair trial by making such unsubstantiated comments.
“Any such observation or finding is clearly premature, misconceived and is liable to be set aside,” she contended.
