Gujarat: After the Godhra violence, 28 dead bodies were exhumed… High Court said – Teesta Setalvad’s record is not worthy of mercy.

Social activist Teesta Setalvad does not expect to get any relief from the Gujarat High Court. The Gujarat High Court on Monday indicated that it is in no mood to grant any relief in the Pandarwada mass grave digging case considering the record of Teesta Setalvad. In fact, Setalvad is named in the case of digging graves and removing 28 bodies from a mass burial site near Pandarwada in Panchmahal district in December 2005 after the Godhra violence. Setalvad had filed a petition in the court in 2017 after his name was included in the FIR registered in 2011.

In 2006, Gujarat Police had filed an FIR against Teesta Setalvad on charges of fabricating false evidence, destroying evidence, encroaching on a graveyard and hurting religious sentiments. When the matter came up for hearing on Monday, Justice Sandeep Bhatt told Setalvad’s lawyer Yogesh Ravani that after seeing the records, I am not inclined. You have to satisfy (the court).

High Court’s harsh comment on political oppression
The lawyer said that this is the prerogative of his lordship. We will try to convince the court as no offense is made out. After all this is political oppression. To this the judge replied that this is a very broad term used nowadays. The hearing of the case was adjourned till January 9.

Lunawada Municipality had filed a complaint against seven people, including Raees Khan, former coordinator of Setalvad-based NGO Citizens for Justice and Peace. This followed allegations by riot victims that their relatives were buried without following the proper procedure for autopsies. High Court ordered CBI investigation.

How did the name Setalvad come about?
The state government, on the other hand, claimed that the burial took place only after the site was properly notified as a cemetery. Setalvad’s name was included on the basis of Khan’s statement after Khan and Setalvad parted ways. Khan had told that the work of removing the dead bodies was done on his orders.