In a setback to social activist Teesta Setalvad, the Supreme Court on Friday junked her plea for de-freezing nine bank accounts held by her jointly with husband Javed Anand and in the name of two NGOs - Citizens for Justice and Peace and Sabrang Trust. She is currently facing probe for diverting foreign funds received by her NGOs towards welfare of 2002 Gulbarga riot victims.
A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud felt that investigation is currently on and allowed Teesta to apply for de-freezing only after the investigation is over and charge sheet is filed before the concerned court.
Till then, the bench said that the accused Teesta Setalvad and her husband need to explain the charge of alleged misappropriation of “huge funds”, particularly since the Gujarat Police is in possession of materials pointing out circumstances which create “suspicion of the commission” of offences of cheating, breach of trust, forgery and criminal conspiracy.
Setalvad and her NGOs are accused of embezzling Rs 1.51 crore collected to convert the Gulbarga Society into a museum. The bench said, “The appellants will have to explain their position to the investigating agency and after investigation is complete, the matter can proceed further depending on the material gathered during investigation.”