Gujarat High Court Rejects Teesta Setalwad’s Bail Plea, Urges Immediate Surrender, Supreme Court Grants Interim Relief
AHMEDABAD – The Gujarat High Court has rejected Teesta Setalwad’s bail plea in the case of fabricating false evidence and witnesses related to the 2002 Gujarat riots. The court has urged her to surrender immediately. However, the Supreme Court has granted interim relief to Setalwad.
The case dates back to 2002 when the Gujarat Gothra train burning incident sparked riots, resulting in the deaths of many, including Congress MP Isaan Jabri. A thorough investigation into the riots has been ongoing. In relation to these riots, Prime Minister Modi, who was then the state’s chief minister, faced charges. The case was further handled by the Special Investigation Committee.
Narendra Modi and others were acquitted of all charges, claiming innocence. Subsequently, Zakia Jabri, the wife of the late Congress MP Isaan Jabri, and social activist Teesta Setalwad approached the Supreme Court. The court upheld the acquittal of Narendra Modi and others in this long-standing case.
Following this, Teesta Setalwad, along with former IPS officers Sreekumar and Sanjeev Bhatt, was arrested for fabricating false evidence and witnesses connected to the Gujarat riots. All three were arrested on June 25 last year. The investigation revealed that Setalwad had received Rs 30 lakh from politician and senior Congress leader late Ahmed Patel to defame the state government regarding the riots, as claimed by the state government.
Setalwad’s arrest sparked widespread outrage across the country, with left-wing parties, Congress, and other democratic parties strongly condemning it. Setalwad was subsequently imprisoned, and in September last year, she filed a petition seeking bail in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court granted her interim bail on September 2.
Later, Setalwad approached the Gujarat High Court seeking bail, which was initially extended since September last year. However, the high court refused to further extend the bail and ordered Setalwad to surrender immediately. In response, Setalwad appealed to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court, in an evening hearing, initially refused to grant an interim stay on the Gujarat High Court’s order, demanding Setalwad’s surrender. The case was adjourned for an additional session, with a three-judge bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar, A.S. Oha, P.R. Kawai, A.S. Bopanna, and Dibangar Dutta granting interim relief during the special hearing. This implies that there is a temporary stay on the Gujarat High Court judgment for a period of 7 days.
The case is expected to continue in the Supreme Court as further hearings are scheduled.