Supreme Court adjourns hearing in Teesta Setalvad's bail plea
Teesta Setalvad was the co-petitioner in the plea before the Supreme Court challenging the “clean chit” given to then Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 Gujarat riots case, which has been dismissed. She was detained by Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad on June 25, 2022.
The Supreme Court today adjourned the hearing in the bail plea moved by Teesta Setalvad, who has been inter alia accused of forgery and criminal conspiracy pertaining to the 2002 Gujarat riots till Tuesday, i.e. August 30.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta mentioned the matter before the bench comprising Justices UU Lalit, S Ravindra Bhat and Sudhanshu Dhulia and informed that though the reply of the State Government of Gujarat had been prepared, it needed further corrections.
To this, Counsel for Setalvad, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal asked the court whether the matter could be taken up today at 2 pm. He said that every day of incarceration is wrong.
SG Mehta, however, countered and said that there is nothing special in this case.
Thereafter, Court informed the counsel that on Monday the same combination of the bench will not sit and as the matter needs to be heard by the same combination, it could be listed on Tuesday.
Therefore, Court ordered the matter be listed as first item on Tuesday on SG's request to grant more time to make further corrections in the reply by the State.
On August 22, the court had issued notice to Gujarat Government in this plea.
In her plea, Setalvad has claimed that she has been targeted by the state as she raised critical issues before this Court challenging the administration.
Her bail plea was rejected by an Ahmedabad court on July 30. Teesta Setalvad, a co-petitioner in the plea before Supreme Court challenging “clean chit” given to then Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 Gujarat riots case, was detained by Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on June 25, 2022.
Gujarat ATS proceeded to arrest Teesta Setalvad in connection with a fresh case of forgery, criminal conspiracy and placing false evidence in court to frame innocent people in the 2002 Gujarat riots case. She and others have been booked under IPC sections 468 (forgery) and 194 (giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction for capital offence) among other offences.
Dismissing the plea which challenged the clean chit to Narendra Modi in Gujarat Riots case, Supreme Court had remarked that the plea was filed with 'Ulterior Design' and that the protest petition against the Magistrate's order which accepted the closure report of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) was being pursued at behest of "dictation" of someone.
The top court had observed that proceedings in the matter had been pursued for the last 16 years to "keep the pot boiling, obviously, for ulterior design". While wrapping its knuckles on such abuse of process, top court had added that those involved need to “be in the dock and proceeded with in accordance with law.”
Case Title: Teeta Setalvad Vs State of Gujarat