Gujarat HC Rejects Teesta Setalvad's Bail Plea, Asks Her to Surrender Immediately
Ahmedabad, July 1, 2023: Gujarat High Court on Friday rejected the bail plea of activist Teesta Setalvad, who is facing charges of fabricating evidence to implicate 'innocent persons' in the 2002 Gujarat riots. Justice Nirzar Desai of the high court also turned down the request made by Setalvad's lawyer, Mihir Thakore, to stay the operation of the judgement for a period of 30 days to allow them to move the Supreme Court.
Setalvad was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court in September 2022. She was arrested by the Gujarat Police on June 25, 2022, along with former IPS officer RB Sreekumar and businessman Sanjiv Bhatt, in connection with a case filed against them by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch for allegedly conspiring to falsely implicate several people, including then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, in the 2002 Gujarat riots.
The Gujarat Police had accused Setalvad of fabricating evidence and tutoring witnesses to implicate innocent people in the riots. They had also alleged that she had received foreign funding to carry out her activities.
Setalvad's lawyer, Mihir Thakore, had argued that the charges against her were false and that she had been framed by the Gujarat Police. He had also submitted that she was a 70-year-old woman with health problems and that she should be granted bail on humanitarian grounds.
However, Justice Desai rejected Setalvad's bail plea, saying that the allegations against her were serious and that she could tamper with evidence if she was released on bail. He also said that Setalvad was not a "prisoner of conscience" and that she could avail of all legal remedies available to her.
Setalvad has now been asked to surrender immediately to the Gujarat Police. She is likely to challenge the Gujarat High Court's decision in the Supreme Court.
The rejection of Setalvad's bail plea has been met with criticism from human rights activists and lawyers. They have accused the Gujarat Police of targeting Setalvad for her activism and for her work in highlighting the Gujarat riots. They have also called for the Supreme Court to intervene in the matter and to ensure that Setalvad's fundamental rights are protected.
