SC seeks Gujarat's reply on freezing bank accounts of Teesta, husband

The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave the Gujarat government two weeks to respond to rights activist Teesta Setalvad's plea challenging the freezing of her and her husband's bank accounts and those of their organisations -- Sabrang Trust and Citizens for Justice and Peace.

A bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit allowed the two-week time after Setalvad's counsel Kapil Sibal contested the government decision to freeze her personal account and that of her husband Javed Anand.

The Gujarat Police is investigating the alleged misuse of funds collected by Sabrang Trust for setting up a museum at the Gulbarga Society, which witnessed one of the worst carnage during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

The bench of Justice Anil R. Dave, Justice Fakkir Mohammed Ibrahim Kalifulla (since retired) and Justice V. Gopala Gowda are hearing Setalvad and her husband's plea challenging the Gujarat Police move for their custodial interrogation.

The couple was granted interim bail by the apex court on February 19 as it restrained the Gujarat Police from arresting them.

"As an interim measure, it is directed that the appellants (Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand) shall not be arrested in connection with the FIR CR No. 1 of 2014, registered with the DCP Crime Branch, Ahmedabad, Gujarat," the apex court said in its February 19 order.

The couple moved the apex court challenging the February 12 Gujarat High Court verdict declining them anticipatory bail in the alleged misuse of funds case.

--IANS

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