HC rejects Teesta's plea to quash FIR on fund misappropriation

The Bombay High Court today rejected the petition filed by social activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand seeking quashing of FIR lodged against them in Gujarat for alleged misappropriation of funds and de-freezing of their bank accounts.
A division bench of Justices N H Patil and A M Thipsay today refused to grant any relief to Teesta and Javed after observing that the jurisdiction to decide on the issue lies with the Gujarat High Court as the FIR is lodged there.
A victim of Gulbarg Housing Society incident, where 67 persons were killed during the riots, has lodged a complaint with Ahmedabad police against Teesta and Javed and their NGOs 'Citizens for Justice and Peace' and 'Sabrang Trust'.

According to the complaint, the accused had allegedly collected funds in the name of converting part of the Gulbarg Society into a museum and had allegedly misappropriated funds worth crores.
The Cyber crime cell of Ahmedabad crime branch had in its affidavits filed in the Bombay High Court opposing Teesta and Javed's petition, claimed that the duo had embezzled funds and used it for their personal expenditure.
"Donations received for public purposes prima facie appear to be frittered away towards shopping, entertainment and other expenses of a purely personal nature," the Gujarat police had said.

"Total funds of Rs 7.16 crores was received by Sabrang Trust and CJP trust. Out of this a total amount of Rs 2.67 crores was transferred to the personal accounts of Teesta and Javed, used towards payment of their credit card dues," the affidavit alleged.

It claimed that the Trust funds were used towards purchase of jewellery, wine and liquor, spa treatments, movie tickets, branded shoes and clothes and electronic goods by Teesta and Javed.
The High Court today said it cannot grant any relief to the applicants as the FIR is lodged in Gujarat and hence the duo (Teesta and Javed) will have to seek relief from the High Court there.