SC grants interim relief to Teesta Setalvad

The Supreme Court on Thursday extended the interim bail for social activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand who have been accused of alleged misappropriation of public funds.

"The Supreme Court has reserved its judgment on the matter and has decided to grant continued interim relief to Teesta Setalvad. But the court has made it clear that the case is not one which needs custodial interrogation," said lawyer Prashant Bhushan.

"The lawyer of the Gujarat Government argued that a lot of money had been collected for the trust which had been used for her personal needs. However, Teesta's lawyer challenged the government saying that if they could show any documents proving the allegations then they would drop the case but the Gujarat Government could show no such document," he added.

The new bench comprising of Justices Dipak Mishra and Adarsh Kumar Goel have given the hearing that interim orders would continue till a final order is given.

An FIR had reportedly been lodged last year against Setalwad, her husband Javed Anand and Tanvir Jafri, son of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri (who was killed in the 2002 Gujarat riots), for allegedly embezzling funds meant for a museum for the victims of the incident.