The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice on plea moved by Social activist Teesta Setalvad seeking bail in the case registered by Gujarat ATS alleging falsification of records to implicate high state functionaries in the Gujarat riots conspiracy case.
At the outset, Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, the presiding judge of the bench, asked Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who was representing Teesta, whether there was any objection to him hearing the matter, due to his representation of “few of the accused in the Sohrabuddin murder matter”.
Sibal expressed that he has no objection.
After that, the bench, also comprising Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Sudhanshu Dhulia, started hearing the matter.
Sibal drew the Court’s attention to the FIR registered against Teesta under Sections 468, 471, 194, 211 of the Indian Penal Code and submitted that the allegations in the FIR are pure recitation of proceedings which had happened and culminated in the judgment of Supreme Court, and beyond such recitation, nothing has been alleged against her.
He further submitted that Teetsa was taken in custody on 25th June and since then, has been in custody. Her bail plea was denied by the trial court and the High Court, though issued notice, has kept the matter for September 19. No interim relief has been granted in the interregnum.
The Supreme Court has directed the Petitioner to serve the Standing Counsel for the State and has kept the matter for hearing on Thursday, August 25.
While dismissing Zakia Jafri’s petition, a bench led by Justice AM Khanwilkar had blamed the petitioners for “keeping the pot boiling” and showing the “audacity” to question the integrity of the Special Investigation Team and observed that “all those involved in such abuse of process, need to be in the dock and proceeded with in accordance with law”.
The very next day, the Gujarat ATS arrested Teesta Setalvad, RB Sreekumar and Sanjiv Bhatt (who is already serving imprisonment in another case) in a case taken alleging filing of false proceedings using forged documents in relation to the 2002 riots.
Case Title : Teesta Atul Setalvad versus State of Gujarat | SLP(Crl) No.7413/2022
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