The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sought custodial interrogation of social activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand, currently on bail, for failing to cooperate in the probe for alleged misuse of foreign funds in violation of the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA).
Filing an appeal against the Bombay High Court order of August 11 grating anticipatory bail to the couple, the agency said, “The contention of respondents that a huge amount of $290000 was allegedly collected by them for compiling and parting information which is easily available in the public domain is ex facie false. The actual utilisation of the amount is something which is within the exclusive knowledge of the respondents and the same can be unearthed only by subjecting them to a sustained interrogation in police custody.”
The agency claimed several grounds in its appeal to set aside the HC order and challenged the bail as the HC failed to note how Setalvad’s trust - Sabrang Communication and Publishing Private limited (SCPPl) received $290000 (approx `1.8 crore) from US-based Ford Foundation without prior approval of the Centre. Further, the trust received grants for socio-economic issues at national level, as noted by HC, despite being engaged in publication of newspaper and journal.