SC Seeks Gujarat Govt’s Response On Activist Teesta Setalvad's Bail Plea In 2002 Riots Case

Setalvad and Sreekumar, who was also arrested in June, are accused of fabricating evidence to frame "innocent people" in the post-Godhra riot cases.

Social activist Teesta Setalvad

Source : PTI File Photo

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought response from Gujarat government over social activist Teesta Setalvad’s bail plea, reported news agency PTI adding that the apex court has posted the matter for hearing on August 25. Setalvad was arrested in June for allegedly fabricating evidence to frame "innocent people" in the 2002 Gujarat riot cases.

As per the report, a notice was issued to the Gujarat government on Setalvad’s plea by a bench headed by Justice UU Lalit. 

On August 3, the Gujarat High Court issued notice to the state government on the plea and fixed the matter for hearing on September 19.

Earlier on July 30, a sessions court in Ahmedabad had rejected the bail applications of Setalvad and former director general of police RB Sreekumar in the case , saying their release will send a message to wrongdoers that a person can level allegations with impunity and get away with it.

Setalvad and Sreekumar, who was also arrested in June, are accused of fabricating evidence to frame "innocent people" in the post-Godhra riot cases.

The third accused in the case, former IPS officer Sanjay Bhatt has not applied for the bail. Bhatt was already in jail for another criminal matter when he was arrested in the case. 

Setalvad and Sreekumar were arrested by Ahmedabad crime branch in June this year on the basis of an FIR registered against them under the Indian Penal Code Sections 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 194 (giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction for capital offence).

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to investigate the case, in its affidavit, had alleged that Setalvad and Sreekumar were part of a larger conspiracy carried out at the behest of late Congress leader Ahmed Patel in order to destabilise the then Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Narendra Modi.