‘Supreme’ relief to Teesta Setalvad, know on what basis the court stayed the arrest
The Supreme Court has provided interim protection to social activist Teesta Setalvad. The Supreme Court granted interim protection to Setalvad by staying the order of the Gujarat High Court for 7 days.
The Gujarat High Court had on Saturday (July 1) rejected Teesta Setalvad’s regular bail in the case of giving false evidence related to the Gujarat riots and asked her to surrender immediately. Setalvad challenged the Gujarat High Court’s order in the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court grants interim protection to activist Teesta Setalvad by staying for seven days the order of the Gujarat High Court asking her to surrender immediately.
Her regular bail was rejected by the Gujarat High Court today in a case of alleged fabrication of evidence in… pic.twitter.com/ocZMgrV7lP
— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2023
Three judges bench heard
A three-judge bench headed by Justice BR Gavai started hearing on Setalvad’s petition at around 9.15 pm on Saturday (July 1). It included Justices AS Bopanna and Dipankar Dutta. The Supreme Court asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Gujarat government, why seven days should not be given to a person to challenge the bail, when he has been out for so long.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta gave these arguments in the court
Tushar Mehta said, “This case is much more serious than the casual manner in which it has been presented.” Mehta said that the SIT (on the 2002 Godhra riots case) was constituted by the Supreme Court and Who has filed reports from time to time. The witnesses told the SIT that Setalvad had given a statement to them and his focus was on a particular aspect which was found to be false. He said that Setalvad filed false affidavits.
What did Teesta Setalvad’s lawyer say?
Advocate CU Singh, appearing for Teesta Setalvad, told the Supreme Court that his client was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court on September 22 last year. He said that Setalvad has not violated any condition of bail.
‘Will the sky fall if interim protection is granted?’
The top court observed that Setalvad was out on bail for ten months. The court asked about the urgency of taking Setalvad into custody? The court said, “If interim protection is granted, will the sky fall… We were surprised by what the High Court did. What is this worrying urgency?
What did the Gujarat High Court say on Setalvad?
The Gujarat High Court had said that Setalvad tried to destabilize the democratically elected government and tarnish the image of then Chief Minister and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi and send him to jail.
Justice Nirjhar Desai’s court rejected Setalvad’s bail plea in a case related to fabricating evidence to implicate “innocent people” in the 2002 post-Godhra riots, saying her release would send a wrong message that everything is fine in a democratic country. There is generosity.
