In the case related to embezzlement of funds, Ahmedabad Crime Branch (ACB) on Tuesday vehemently opposed bail to social activist Teesta Setalvad, her husband Javed Anand and three others. The ACB officials also filed an affidavit in the Ahmedabad Sessions Court pertaining to investigation against Teesta and her accomplices. Further hearing on the case has been kept on Wednesday afternoon.
According to the case filed by the members of the Gulbarag Society, Teesta has received huge funds in her NGOs, Citizens for Justice & Peace (CJP) and Sabrang Trust, for the construction of museum in Gulbarag Society and for providing financial and legal help the riot victims. However, instead of using the fund for the purpose, Teesta and her husband Javed transferred part of the fund in their personal bank accounts.
Ajay Choksi, Special Public Prosecutor appointed by Gujarat Government forcefully opposed the bail application filed by Teesta and others. During more than two hours argument Choksi highlighted that Teesta and her husband have deliberately and intentionally suppressed material facts from the SC and from this Trial Court.
He stated that Teesta in her SlP did not disclose that she has filed two Petitions in Mumbai HC and at the time of hearing in the Supreme Court on 24 February 2014, the Counsel for the Petitioner ought to have pointed out that on the very next day the Petitioners have already approached Sessions Court, Ahmedabad for anticipatory bail, however they have deliberately and intentionally did not disclose this material fact to get relief of transit bail.
Choksi has also highlighted that Teesta deliberately did not annex the copy of Bombay HC order in the Trial Court, Ahmedabad along with her bail application, but also concealed this fact that she and her husband have filed a quashing application in Mumbai HC, to mislead the Court. The Mumbai High Court on 31.01.2014 already dismissed her Petition for anticipatory bail on the ground of territorial jurisdiction and directed her and her husband to approach appropriate Courts in Gujarat.
Teesta, who challenged the order of the Mumbai High Court by filing the SlP on February 20, 2014 in the Supreme Court, could not impress the SC. The SC later on dismissed her SlP and refused to interfere in the order of Mumbai High Court.
Making a very strong case against Teesta and her husband Javed, the Crime Branch have submitted account details of CJP, Sabrang Trust and individual accounts of Teesta Setalvad, Javed and their daughter Tamara Setalvad, to prove how the money collected for the construction of museum in Gulbarag society and for providing financial assistance to the riot victims of Gujarat was transferred in the personal accounts of Teesta, her husband Javed and in their own company Sabrang Communications and Publishing Pvt ltd.