'Steps against Setalvad taken due to political vendetta': Manish Tewari

Congress leader Manish Tewari on Friday said activist Teesta Setalvad had played an important role in exposing the perpetrators of Gujarat pogrom and bringing them to justice and added that the steps taken against her were out of a sense of political vendetta.

"The fact remains that Teesta Setalvad played a very seminal role in exposing the perpetrators of the Gujarat pogrom and bringing them to justice. It's quite obvious that whatever steps have been taken against her, they are out of a sense of political vendetta," Tewari told ANI.

"The government is sending a clear message to all those who oppose their fascist politics that 'we will get you come what may," he added.

The Supreme Court had yesterday stopped the Gujarat police from arresting activist Teesta Setalvad for a day, following a petition by senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan.

The apex court's relief for Setalvad's came after her anticipatory bail plea in connection with an embezzlement case was rejected by the Gujarat High Court.

Besides Setalwad, her husband Javed Anand, former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri's (who was killed in Gujarat during the 2002 riots) son Tanvir Jafri are accused of misappropriating funds worth over Rs one crore.

An FIR had reportedly been lodged last year against the activist and the others for allegedly misappropriating the funds meant for a museum for the riot victims.

Denying any misuse of funds, Setalvad had reportedly blamed political motives behind the case.