Renowned activist Teesta Setalwad was granted anticipatory bail on Tuesday by Bombay High Court in a case, where she is facing charges misappropriation of funds.
The central government, while opposing her bail pleas, had described her a risk to national security. The court, however, rejected this notion by saying that it did not ‘see any threat to sovereignty or integrity of the state.’
Both Seetalvad and her husband Javed Anand are accused of violating financial laws in connection with the funding received from US-based For Foundation.
While agreeing that there may have been ‘ some kind of misuse of the amount’ the court made strong comment about the right to have a different view adding that ‘it’s the duty of the state to protect the right to have a different view.’
CBI had registered a case against Teesta for alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act on July 8 claiming that her Sabrang Communication and Publishing Private Limited received around $2.9 lakh in donations from overseas. Gujarat police has accused her of embezzling funds meant for a riots museum.
She had moved court in Mumbai asking for anticipatory bail. The court gave her relief from arrest until July 21, when it will pronounce order on the bail plea.
Teesta, for her part has denied these allegations. She has been working to ensure justice for the victims of the 2002 riots in Gujarat, where more than 2000 people were killed under Modi- now India’s prime minister- as the state’s chief minister. She alleges that the ruling BJP is attempting to persecute her.
