Teesta Setalvad Moves Gujarat High Court to Quash Evidence Fabrication Case Related to 2002 Godhra Riots
Rights' activist Teesta Setalvad has approached the Gujarat High Court seeking the dismissal of the case filed against her by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on charges of alleged evidence fabrication in connection with the 2002 Godhra riots [Teesta Atul Setalvad vs State of Gujarat].
Confirming the development, Senior Advocate Mihir Thakore stated that Teesta has moved the High Court to quash the complaint, which was lodged against her in June of the previous year. The plea is expected to be heard by a single-judge bench.
Teesta Setalvad's arrest came after a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court made unfavorable remarks about her on June 24, 2022, while dismissing Zakia Jafri's plea. Zakia Jafri is the wife of slain Congress Member of Parliament (MP), Ehsan Jafri, who was killed during the 2002 Gujarat Riots.
The charges against Setalvad include conspiracy and fabricating evidence to implicate higher officials of the then Gujarat government in connection with the 2002 riots cases.
In September 2022, the Supreme Court granted her interim bail and directed her to seek regular bail from the Gujarat High Court.
However, in a detailed order on July 1, a single-judge bench of Justice Nirzar Desai of the Gujarat High Court denied her regular bail, expressing concerns that releasing her on bail could exacerbate communal polarization in the State. The court also ordered Teesta to surrender immediately before the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
Consequently, she approached the Supreme Court for interim bail, which was granted by a three-judge bench of Justices Bhushan Gavai, AS Bopanna, and Dipankar Datta, providing her seven days of interim bail.
On July 19, the bench granted her regular bail, criticizing the Gujarat High Court's previous denial of her bail as 'perverse.'
However, on the next day, a sessions court in Ahmedabad rejected her application seeking discharge from the case.
TAGS: Teesta Setalvad Gujarat High Court evidence fabrication 2002 Godhra riots SIT case quashing arrest Supreme Court bail Zakia Jafri conspiracy Gujarat government single-judge bench Justice Nirzar Desai communal polarization Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad interim bail sessions court discharge.
