In an open letter, nine members of the riot-hit Gulbarg Society appealed to three retired High Court and Supreme Court judges to relinquish support to social worker Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand, against whom a fraud case has been registered under Section 420 of IPC.
The members of the society, who are also victims and witnesses of the 2002 Gujarat riots, urged three retired judges, including Justice BN Shrikrishna, Justice PB Savant and Justice Kolse Patil, not to interfere in the administration of justice. “Instead of sympathising with the victims of the riot cases who were cheated by Teesta Setalvad, retired judges have taken the side of an accused which is a matter of great concern”, the members said in the letter, stating that they feel the act of the retired judges is nothing but a bid to influence the administration of justice.
Reacting to the letter signed by retired judges published in two leading English dailies in favour of Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand, who run two Mumbai-based NGOs — Citizen for Justice and Peace as well as Sabrang Trust — the members said that they were surprised and amazed as to how the retired judges can issue a letter in favour of someone without knowing the facts of the case.
The members said that they had lodged a complaint against Teesta and her husband on 12th March, 2013 and the Ahmedabad Police investigated the case for almost 10 months. Several opportunities were given by the Police to Setalvad and Anand to explain their position, but they failed to co-operate with the Police, they added.
“Teesta and her husband have not only cheated members of the Gulabarag society but also cheated thousands of victims and witnesses of 2002 riots, is proved from the fact that the money collected by them from the foreign & local donors in the name of proving legal help, financial help & for the construction of Museum was actually diverted in their own personal accounts and used for their own welfare,” said the members in the open letter.
They further mentioned that from January1, 2001 to December 3, 2002, Teesta and Anand could not deposit even Rs 100 in their accounts, but suddenly after January 2003, both deposited Rs 2.11crore and Rs 1.28 crore in their respective accounts.
“It is shocking that retired Judges without realizing the seriousness of the case, signed the letter questioning the Police Investigation. It was not expected from the retired Judges to become a part of the conspiracy hatched by Setalvad against the members of the Gulbarg Society,” the members said adding that the prima facie perusal of events and documents indicate the husband-wife duo have brazenly violated the provisions of law and maliciously siphoned off the money meant for the support of riot victims.
In the end the members requested Judges not to interfere in the administration of Justice and let the law take its own course.