Social activist Teesta Setalvad comes out of the CBI office after recording her statement on Monday. (Press Trust of India photo)
Activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand on Monday concluded recording of their statement before CBI in connection with a case against their firm for allegedly receiving around $2.9 lakh (Rs 1.8 crore) in foreign donations in violation of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
They appeared before the investigating agency for three days after a directive from special CBI judge Anis Khan, who on Friday had reserved his order on their anticipatory bail applications till today while granting them interim protection from arrest.
The CBI registered a case on July 8 against Sabrang Communication and Publishing Pvt Limited - a company linked to Ms Setalvad - alleging that the company was not registered under FCRA for collecting money from abroad and the amount of nearly Rs 1.8 crore was, therefore, received in violation of the act as the organisation needed to seek prior approval of the Union Home Ministry.
"We have recorded our statement on three consecutive days as per the directions of the court. Beyond this I can't share anything as per the orders of my lawyers," Ms Setalvad later said.
The CBI investigators had searched four premises owned by Ms Setalvad, Mr Anand, an associate Gulam Mohammed Peshimam, and the office of SCPPL on July 14.
The probe agency had opposed the bail plea contending the motive behind the transfer of foreign contribution to SCPPL reflected "interference towards the internal security and activities of India" and also contested the activist's claim that the money received was a fee for consultancy.
"During the search, an agreement dated September 22, 2006 between Ford Foundation (a US-based NGO) and SCPPL was seized which clearly showed that the remittances were grants. There is no mention of any 'consultancy' therein," the CBI told the court.
The CBI, which is probing the firm's accounts from 2004 to 2014, claimed to have recovered documents showing that the money received from the Ford Foundation had not been cleared by the Home Ministry.
In a related move, the couple has moved an application before a court in Mumbai challenging the raids carried out by CBI, citing the Criminal Procedure Code which provides for conducting a raid only in circumstances when the accused is not cooperating.
The court will hear the petition on July 27.
Ms Setalvad, during the July 14 raids by CBI, had termed the action as a "shameful political vendetta".
Ms Setalvad, who has worked with Gujarat riot victims for years, is facing allegations of diverting funds meant for a riot museum for personal use.