Jaising leads protest against
Setalvad's 'victimisation'
22:12 HRS
IST
New Delhi, Feb 16 (PTI)
Activist lawyer Indira Jaising today protested against the
"victimisation" of social activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband in
alleged fund embezzlement case lodged by the Gujarat police by terming it as a
case of "political vendetta".
Jaising Leads Protest Against
Setalvad's 'Victimisation'
New Delhi | Feb 16,
2015
Activist lawyer Indira
Jaising today protested against the "victimisation" of social
activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband in alleged fund embezzlement case
lodged by the Gujarat police by terming it as a case of "political
vendetta".
Jaising, along with a group of eminent people including scribes and academicians, came out in support of the duo, who have been working for the riots victims of 2002, and said there has been a "pattern" in such type of FIRs and cops were insisting on a custodial interrogation to "humiliate" them.
A statement issued by Jaising and others in support of the activists said, "while the Narendra Modi-led government has launched a fresh investigation in the 1984 riots, the persisting spirit of vendetta against an effort to enforce legal and moral accountability for the Gujarat riots was shocking".
Setalvad and her husband were on February 13 granted protection from arrest for six days by the Supreme Court which will hear their plea for anticipatory bail on February 19.
However, the apex court had noted that the allegations against them were "grave" and it was also not a case of quashing the FIR.
Jaising, who was not arguing the matter was present in the courtroom and had made certain comments to the dislike of the apex court.
The case relates to alleged embezzlement of funds for a museum at Ahmedabad's Gulbarg Society that was devastated in the 2002 riots.
Jaising, who was Additional Solicitor General in the previous UPA government, said the victimisation against them started from 2010.
"Every time she gets a favourable order from the court, there is hyperactivity on the part of Gujarat police to lodge an FIR," the former ASG said at a press conference here.
Jaising said, "The issue is why they want to make an arrest and why was the Gujarat police at her doorsteps within minutes of the judgement being delivered? It's a big question mark."
She was referring to the February 12 verdict of the Bombay High Court by which their anticipatory bail plea was rejected.
Journalist and National Integration Council member, John Dayal, alleged that the FIR against her follows a "certain pattern" and the police was insisting on a custodial interrogation of the activists to humiliate them.
When questioned if she would intend to get the very prosecution quashed by Supreme Court citing frivolous and criminal intent, Jaising said Setalvad only wanted to make it clear that she was not running away from any investigation.
"She is saying you can investigate whatever you want because I am very clear about my accounts," she elaborated.
The group, which came in support of the activist couple, also issued a statement raising "serious doubts about the bona fide of the complainants" in the case.
The Supreme Court on Friday had passed an order protecting Setalvad and her husband from arrest till February 19 in connection with a fund embezzlement case, while noting that allegations against them were "grave".
Jaising, along with a group of eminent people including scribes and academicians, came out in support of the duo, who have been working for the riots victims of 2002, and said there has been a "pattern" in such type of FIRs and cops were insisting on a custodial interrogation to "humiliate" them.
A statement issued by Jaising and others in support of the activists said, "while the Narendra Modi-led government has launched a fresh investigation in the 1984 riots, the persisting spirit of vendetta against an effort to enforce legal and moral accountability for the Gujarat riots was shocking".
Setalvad and her husband were on February 13 granted protection from arrest for six days by the Supreme Court which will hear their plea for anticipatory bail on February 19.
However, the apex court had noted that the allegations against them were "grave" and it was also not a case of quashing the FIR.
Jaising, who was not arguing the matter was present in the courtroom and had made certain comments to the dislike of the apex court.
The case relates to alleged embezzlement of funds for a museum at Ahmedabad's Gulbarg Society that was devastated in the 2002 riots.
Jaising, who was Additional Solicitor General in the previous UPA government, said the victimisation against them started from 2010.
"Every time she gets a favourable order from the court, there is hyperactivity on the part of Gujarat police to lodge an FIR," the former ASG said at a press conference here.
Jaising said, "The issue is why they want to make an arrest and why was the Gujarat police at her doorsteps within minutes of the judgement being delivered? It's a big question mark."
She was referring to the February 12 verdict of the Bombay High Court by which their anticipatory bail plea was rejected.
Journalist and National Integration Council member, John Dayal, alleged that the FIR against her follows a "certain pattern" and the police was insisting on a custodial interrogation of the activists to humiliate them.
When questioned if she would intend to get the very prosecution quashed by Supreme Court citing frivolous and criminal intent, Jaising said Setalvad only wanted to make it clear that she was not running away from any investigation.
"She is saying you can investigate whatever you want because I am very clear about my accounts," she elaborated.
The group, which came in support of the activist couple, also issued a statement raising "serious doubts about the bona fide of the complainants" in the case.
The Supreme Court on Friday had passed an order protecting Setalvad and her husband from arrest till February 19 in connection with a fund embezzlement case, while noting that allegations against them were "grave".
Lawyers, activists see vendetta behind action against Teesta
NEW
DELHI, February 17, 2015
Anita
Joshua
Noam Chomsky and Sheldon Pollack join scores of people in expressing solidarity with activist
Three days before the Supreme Court is
to hear final arguments in activist Teesta Setalvad’s plea for anticipatory
bail, lawyers, journalists and civil rights activists on Monday termed the move
to arrest her and her husband Javed Anand for “custodial questioning” as part
of a larger effort to silence dissent.
The couple has been accused of
embezzlement of funds meant for the construction of a memorial for the Gujarat
2002 riot victims.
In a statement issued under the Safdar
Hashmi Memorial Trust banner, political theorist Noam Chomsky and Sanskrit
scholar Sheldon Pollack joined scores of academics and concerned citizens to
express solidarity with Ms. Setalvad and Mr. Anand.
On their possible prosecution over
charges of financial misappropriation, the statement said: “We see this as a
clear case of the politics of vendetta launched with explicit intent to
whitewash and efface from public memory the misdeeds of those who today wield
political power in the State and at the Centre.”
Addressing a related meeting, former
Additional Solicitor-General Indira Jaising said the two were being targeted
because they had helped Zakia Jafri – widow of parliamentarian Ehsan Jafri, who
was killed in the riots – get justice.
Questioning the rationale in trying to
arrest the duo in a case based entirely on paperwork, she said the idea was to
strike fear in the hearts of people who stand up to those currently in power.
“It is not just to teach Teesta a lesson, but to all of us also,’’ she said,
echoing a point made by the National Integration Council member John Dayal
earlier. He underlined the fact that “Teesta has taken on not just the ruling
apparatus but the king himself, Narendra Modi’’.
Of the view that freedom of expression
is under attack from various quarters, editor of Jansatta Om Thanvi said
the media could not afford to remain silent. “Remain silent now at your own
peril,’’ he warned fellow journalists.
Noam Chomsky and
Sheldon Pollack join scores of people in expressing solidarity with activist
Rights activists question Gujarat’s ‘insistence’ on arresting Teesta
16FEB2015
Human rights activists
have questioned Gujarat state’s insistence that activists Teesta Setalvad and
Javed Anand be arrested. The couple is accused of embezzling money collected in
the name of Gujarat riot victims.
Senior lawyer and
former additional solicitor general Indira Jaising contrasted the state’s
insistence on the couple’s arrest with the fact that CBI is yet to file an
appeal on the discharge of BJP president Amit Shah in the
killings of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, Kauser Bi and Tulsiram Prajapati. She said:
“This is not a lesson for Teesta, this a lesson for us. In a government with
such absolute brute majority in the Lok Sabha, the only weapon of dissent left
to us is our own voices. It is not a crime to hold views contrary to that of the
government…” She added: “Why has the CBI not appealed against the discharge of
Amit Shah while the state is pressing for custodial interrogation in a case of
embezzlement where all the evidence is documentary and cannot be tampered
with”.
Senior lawyer and former additional solicitor
general Indira Jaising contrasted the state’s insistence on the couple’s arrest
with the fact that CBI is yet to file an appeal on the discharge of BJP
president Amit Shah in the killings of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, Kauser Bi and Tulsiram
Prajapati. She said: “This is not a lesson for Teesta, this a lesson for us. In
a government with such absolute brute majority in the Lok Sabha, the only
weapon of dissent left to us is our own voices. It is not a crime to hold views
contrary to that of the government…”
Former journalist and member of National
Integration Council John Dayal alleged that the state’s full might was being
used to persecute Setalvad and Anand, raising serious questions about policing
and the criminal justice system.
Setalvad has been accused of embezzling a sum of
Rs 1 crore that Sabrang Trust had allegedly raised. In her defence, Setalvad
said the trust started collecting donations with the intention of buying flats
and bungalows in the Gulberg Society at market rates but managed to raise only
Rs 4.6 lakh, which was not sufficient. She maintained that only expenses
pertaining to the activities of Sabrang Trust and her NGO Citizens for Justice
and Peace were claimed and reimbursed by the two trusts.
Rights activists question Gujarat’s ‘insistence’ on arresting Teesta
By: Express News
Service | New Delhi | Posted: February 17, 2015 1:36 am | Updated: February
17, 2015 1:38 am
Human rights activists have questioned Gujarat
state’s insistence that activists Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand be arrested.
The couple is accused of embezzling money collected in the name of Gujarat riot
victims.
Senior lawyer and former additional solicitor
general Indira Jaising contrasted the state’s insistence on the couple’s arrest
with the fact that CBI is yet to file an appeal on the discharge of BJP
president Amit Shah in the killings of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, Kauser Bi and
Tulsiram Prajapati. She said: “This is not a lesson for Teesta, this a lesson
for us. In a government with such absolute brute majority in the Lok Sabha, the
only weapon of dissent left to us is our own voices. It is not a crime to hold
views contrary to that of the government…”
She added: “Why has the CBI not appealed against the discharge of Amit Shah while the state is pressing for custodial interrogation in a case of embezzlement where all the evidence is documentary and cannot be tampered with”.
She added: “Why has the CBI not appealed against the discharge of Amit Shah while the state is pressing for custodial interrogation in a case of embezzlement where all the evidence is documentary and cannot be tampered with”.
Former journalist and member of National
Integration Council John Dayal alleged that the state’s full might was being
used to persecute Setalvad and Anand, raising serious questions about policing
and the criminal justice system.
Setalvad has been accused of embezzling a sum of
Rs 1 crore that Sabrang Trust had allegedly raised. In her defence, Setalvad
said the trust started collecting donations with the intention of buying flats
and bungalows in the Gulberg Society at market rates but managed to raise only
Rs 4.6 lakh, which was not sufficient. She maintained that only expenses
pertaining to the activities of Sabrang Trust and her NGO Citizens for Justice
and Peace were claimed and reimbursed by the two trusts.
Feb 17 2015 : The Times
of India (Delhi)
Teesta Setalvad ‘hounded for speaking up’, feel scribes
TNN
| Feb 17, 2015, 06.16 AM IST
NEW DELHI: The Gujarat
Police's move to arrest Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand is not just
about "the harassment and victimization" of activists fighting for
justice in the Gujarat carnage cases. It's a warning to all about "the
consequences of speaking up". This was the consensus at a meeting
organized by the Press Club of India on Monday to express solidarity with
Setalvad and Anand, both of whom are activists as well as journalists.
While their arrest has
been stayed by the Supreme Court till the next hearing of their anticipatory
bail plea on February 19, the speakers at the meeting questioned the Gujarat
Police's insistence on "custodial interrogation".
Senior advocate Indira
Jaising contended there was no need for custodial interrogation as "the
primary evidence" in the case involving allegations of cheating and breach
of trust was "documentary". The question of whether the couple had
embezzled any of the funds collected for building a museum at one of the sites
of the Gujarat violence, Gulberg Society in Ahmedabad, according to Jaising,
depended entirely on the interpretation of books of accounts, credit card bills
and other such documented transactions. "Setalvad was therefore entitled
to ask for questions in writing," Jaising said, making light of the
allegation that she was not cooperating with the probe.
The circumstances in which the case had been booked also came in for criticism. Since their earlier attempts to "frame" Setalvad in the Best Bakery and illegal exhumation cases had been rebuffed by the Supreme Court in 2004 and 2012, the Gujarat Police, Jaising alleged, filed the embezzlement case in February 2014 after the SIT report exonerating Narendra Modi had been endorsed by a magistrate in Ahmedabad. Whatever the motives behind the case booked in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, Setalvad and Anand were opposing not the investigation but the demand for custodial interrogation.
Press Club presidentAnand Sahay raised concerns about the manner in which sections of the media were "distorting" the facts involved.
Locating the case in the context of the growing threats to free speech, veteran journalist cum activist John Dayal said, "The only reason the Gujarat Police were trying to arrest Teesta Setalvad is to humiliate and crush the spirit of everyone of us who dares to probe the legal system, question state-sponsored violence and speak for victims." The editor of a Hindi daily, Om Thanvi, found it "suspicious" that the Gujarat Police landed up at Setalvad's residence in Mumbai within minutes of the Gujarat high court's rejection of her anticipatory bail plea.
The circumstances in which the case had been booked also came in for criticism. Since their earlier attempts to "frame" Setalvad in the Best Bakery and illegal exhumation cases had been rebuffed by the Supreme Court in 2004 and 2012, the Gujarat Police, Jaising alleged, filed the embezzlement case in February 2014 after the SIT report exonerating Narendra Modi had been endorsed by a magistrate in Ahmedabad. Whatever the motives behind the case booked in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, Setalvad and Anand were opposing not the investigation but the demand for custodial interrogation.
Press Club presidentAnand Sahay raised concerns about the manner in which sections of the media were "distorting" the facts involved.
Locating the case in the context of the growing threats to free speech, veteran journalist cum activist John Dayal said, "The only reason the Gujarat Police were trying to arrest Teesta Setalvad is to humiliate and crush the spirit of everyone of us who dares to probe the legal system, question state-sponsored violence and speak for victims." The editor of a Hindi daily, Om Thanvi, found it "suspicious" that the Gujarat Police landed up at Setalvad's residence in Mumbai within minutes of the Gujarat high court's rejection of her anticipatory bail plea.
Feb 17 2015 : The Times
of India (Ahmedabad)
Teesta `hounded for speaking up',
feel many
New Delhi
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
The Gujarat police's
move to arrest Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand is not just about
“the harassment and victimization“ of activists fighting for justice in the
Gujarat carnage cases. It's a warning to all about “the consequences of speaking
up“.
This was the consensus
at a meeting organized by the Press Club of India on Monday to express
solidarity with Setalvad and Anand, both of whom are activists as well as
journalists.
While their arrest has
been stayed by the Supreme Court till the next hearing of their anticipatory
bail plea on February 19, the speakers at the meeting questioned the Gujarat
police's insistence on “custodial interrogation“.
Senior advocate Indira
Jaising contended there was no need for custodial interrogation as “the primary
evidence“ in the case involving allegations of cheating and breach of trust was
“documentary“. The question of whether the couple had embezzled any of the
funds collected for building a museum at one of the sites of the Gujarat
violence, Gulberg Society in Ahmedabad, according to Jaising, depended entirely
on the interpretation of books of accounts, credit card bills and other such
documented transactions. “Setalvad was therefore entitled to ask for questions
in writing,“ Jaising said, making light of the allegation that she was not
cooperating with the probe.
The circumstances in
which the case had been booked also came in for criticism.
Feb 17 2015 : The Times
of India (Mumbai)
`Teesta hounded for speaking up'
New Delhi:
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
The Gujarat police’s
move to arrest Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand is not just about
“the harassment and victimization” of activists fighting for justice in the
Gujarat carnage cases. It’s a warning to all about “the consequences of
speaking up”. This was the consensus at a meeting organized by the Press Club
of India on Monday to express solidarity with Setalvad and Anand, both of whom
are activists and journalists.
While their arrest has
been stayed by the Supreme Court till the next hearing of their anticipatory
bail plea on February 19, the speakers at the meeting questioned the Gujarat
police’s insistence on “custodial interrogation”.
Senior advocate Indira
Jaising contended there was no need for custodial interrogation as “the primary
evidence” in the case involving allegations of cheating and breach of trust was
“documentary”. The question of whether the couple had embezzled any of the
funds collected for building a museum at one of the sites of the Gujarat
violence, Gulberg Society in Ahmedabad, according to Jaising, depended entirely
on the interpretation of books of accounts, credit card bills and other such
documented transactions. “Setalvad was therefore entitled to ask for questions
in writing,” Jaising said.
The circumstances in
which the case had been booked also came in for criticism. Since their earlier
attempts to “frame” Setalvad in the Best Bakery and illegal exhumation cases
had been rebuffed by the SC in 2004 and 2012, the Gujarat police, Jaising
alleged, filed the embezzlement case in February 2014 after the SIT report
exonerating Narendra Modi had been endorsed by a magistrate in Ahmedabad.
Whatever the motives
behind the case booked in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, Setalvad and
Anand were opposing not the investigation but the demand for custodial
interrogation.
Press Club
presidentAnand Sahay raised concerns about the manner in which sections of the
media were “distorting” the facts involved.
Activist lawyer Indira Jaising leads protest against Teesta Setalvad's 'victimisation'
Activist lawyer Indira
Jaising today protested against the "victimisation" of social
activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband in alleged fund embezzlement case
lodged by the Gujarat police by terming it as a case of "political
vendetta".
Activist lawyer Indira Jaising today protested
against the "victimisation" of social activist Teesta Setalvad and
her husband in alleged fund embezzlement
case lodged by the Gujarat police by terming it as a case of
"political vendetta".
Jaising, along with a group of eminent people
including scribes and academicians, came out in support of the duo, who have
been working for the riots victims of 2002, and said there has been a
"pattern" in such type of FIRs and cops were insisting on a custodial
interrogation to "humiliate" them.
A statement issued by Jaising and others in
support of the activists said, "while the Narendra Modi-led government has
launched a fresh investigation
in the 1984 riots, the persisting spirit of vendetta against an effort to
enforce legal and moral accountability for the Gujarat riots was
shocking".
Setalvad and her husband were on February 13
granted protection from arrest for six days by the Supreme Court which will
hear their plea for anticipatory bail on February 19.
However, the apex court had noted that the
allegations against them were "grave" and it was also not a case of
quashing the FIR.
Jaising, who was not arguing the matter was
present in the courtroom and had made certain comments to the dislike of the
apex court.
The case relates to alleged embezzlement of funds
for a museum at Ahmedabad's Gulbarg Society that was devastated in the 2002
riots.
Jaising, who was Additional Solicitor General in
the previous UPA government, said the victimisation against them started from
2010.
"Every time she gets a favourable
order from the court, there is hyperactivity on the part of Gujarat police to
lodge an FIR," the former ASG said at a press conference here.
Jaising said, "The issue is why they want to
make an arrest and why was the Gujarat police at her doorsteps within minutes
of the judgement being delivered? It's a big question mark."
She was referring to the February 12 verdict of the Bombay High Court by which their anticipatory bail plea was rejected.
She was referring to the February 12 verdict of the Bombay High Court by which their anticipatory bail plea was rejected.
Journalist and National Integration Council
member, John Dayal, alleged that the FIR against her follows a "certain
pattern" and the police was insisting on a custodial interrogation of the
activists to humiliate them.
When questioned if she would intend to get
the very prosecution quashed by Supreme Court citing frivolous and criminal
intent, Jaising said Setalvad only wanted to make it clear that she was not
running away from any investigation.
"She is saying you can investigate whatever
you want because I am very clear about my accounts," she elaborated.
The group, which came in support of the activist couple, also issued a statement raising "serious doubts about the bona fide of the complainants" in the case.
The group, which came in support of the activist couple, also issued a statement raising "serious doubts about the bona fide of the complainants" in the case.
The Supreme Court on Friday had passed an order
protecting Setalvad and her husband from arrest till February 19 in connection
with a fund embezzlement case, while noting that allegations against them were
"grave".
ENDS
