Court grants relief till bail application is heard by Gujarat High Court
AMN / NEW DELHI
The Supreme Court today granted bail to journalist, educationist and human rights activist Teesta Setalvad in the case where she faces charges foisted upon her by the gujarat government
The SC bench comprising Chief Justice UU Lalit, S Ravindra Bhat and Sudhanshu Dhulia, while granting her bail, observed, “In our view, the appellant is entitled to the release on interim bail.” The court however, directed Setalvad to surrender her passport till the matter is considered by the Gujarat High Court. The court also directed her to “render complete cooperation”. The court further cautioned that they have “considered the matter only from the standpoint of interim bail”, meaning that the order passed today does not reflect on the merits of the case. The court said, “The entire matter on merits shall be considered by the High Court independently and uninfluenced by any observations made by this court.”
Appearing for Setalvad, senior advocate Kapil Sibal reiterated his previous arguments that the First Information Report (FIR) against Setalvad had precipitated from the judgment in the Zakia Jafri Case, and did not contain anything else. Sibal further submitted that the affidavits that are alleged to have been forged had been presented before the court. He further said, “When were the affidavits filed? In 2002-2003. And what happened for the last 20 years? And assuming these are typed affidavits, how is it forgery, how is it fabrication? Offence cannot be made out.” He also pointed out that the allegedly forged affidavits were submitted in a case spearheaded by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). He asked, “These are affidavits filed before Supreme Court supporting NHRC petition for transfer. So NHRC was motivated?”
Meanwhile, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said : “This petitioner has maligned the entire State since 2002, has maligned the entire institutions, says this judge is not trustworthy, that judge is not trustworthy, please stop this,” he pleaded. He then tried to counter Sibal’s submissions by making baseless allegations that Setalvad had been paid to malign the State. “There are powerful people involved,” he claimed vaguely. SG Mehta then claimed Setalvad had allegedly used this ill-gotten wealth to fund Dubai shopping trips and purchase wine!