New Delhi: The Supreme Court has extended the interim protection from arrest and transit anticipatory bail granted to activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband by the Bombay High Court from May 2 to May 31 in the fund embezzlement case lodged by the Gujarat police.
The top court, however, asked Teesta and her husband Javed Anand to seek anticipatory bail from the competent forum in Gujarat.
A bench headed by Justice Kurian Joseph said if remedy is sought by Ms Setalvad and her husband then the court concerned should decide the matter on merit.
Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani and Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Gujarat, argued that the Bombay High Court had passed a blatantly illegal order and transit anticipatory bail should not have been granted.
Senior advocate CU Singh, appearing for Ms Setalvad and her husband, said the high court was right in granting transit bail as the alleged offence relates to an educational project in Maharashtra.
The bench, comprising Justices Navin Sinha and MM Shantanagoudar, however, observed it is a settled law that where the FIR or First Information Report is lodged, the jurisdiction lies with the court concerned of that state.
On April 5, the Bombay High Court had ordered social activists Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand should not be arrested till May 2 in a criminal case against them filed by the Gujarat police for alleged misappropriation of funds.
The case was registered by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch on a complaint accusing Ms Setalvad and Mr Anand of "fraudulently" securing grants of Rs 1.4 crore from the union government through their NGO Sabrang Trust between 2008 and 2013.
The Gujarat police claimed that the funds were obtained to help the victims of the 2002 post-Godhra Gujarat riots, but were misappropriated or used for other purposes.
The top court, however, asked Teesta and her husband Javed Anand to seek anticipatory bail from the competent forum in Gujarat.
A bench headed by Justice Kurian Joseph said if remedy is sought by Ms Setalvad and her husband then the court concerned should decide the matter on merit.
Senior advocate CU Singh, appearing for Ms Setalvad and her husband, said the high court was right in granting transit bail as the alleged offence relates to an educational project in Maharashtra.
Advertisement
On April 5, the Bombay High Court had ordered social activists Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand should not be arrested till May 2 in a criminal case against them filed by the Gujarat police for alleged misappropriation of funds.
Advertisement
The Gujarat police claimed that the funds were obtained to help the victims of the 2002 post-Godhra Gujarat riots, but were misappropriated or used for other purposes.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"Not Inclined": High Court On Relief To Teesta Setalvad In Grave Digging Case Cooperate With Police: Supreme Court Tells Teesta Setalvad, Her Husband High Court Notice to Gujarat on Activist Teesta Setalvad's Appeal Nurse Raped, Killed On Way Home, Body Found 9 Days Later In UP Rahul Gandhi's Seat At Red Fort Triggers Fresh Congress Attack On BJP "Took Advantage Of His Addiction": 5 Charged Over Matthew Perry's Death Ukraine, Russia Both Claim Advances In Kursk Region Gaza Ceasefire Talks Underway In Qatar As Deaths Top 40,000 Trump To Hold Press Conference, His Campaign Adds Senior Advisers Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.