New Delhi: The Supreme Court has granted regular bail to activist Teesta Setalvad in a case involving the alleged fabrication of evidence to frame innocent people in the 2002 post-Godhra riots cases.
A three-judge bench of A three-judge bench of Justices B R Gavai, A S Bopanna and Dipankar Datta set aside the order of the Gujarat High Court, which had rejected Setalvad's plea for regular bail.
The top court stated that a charge sheet has been filed against Setalvad, making her custodial interrogation unnecessary. The court also ordered that her passport, which she had already surrendered, will be in the custody of the session court.
Furthermore, Setalvad is prohibited from attempting to influence witnesses and must keep away from them. The bench also granted the Gujarat Police the liberty to directly approach the apex court if any attempt is made to influence witnesses in the case.
The top court said a charge sheet has been filed in the case against Setalvad and her custodial interrogation is not necessary.
"The passport of the appellant already surrendered will be in custody of session court. The appellant shall not make any attempt to influence witnesses and shall stay away from them," the bench said.
The bench also granted the Gujarat Police liberty to directly move the apex court if attempt is made to influence witnesses in the case.
Setalvad was taken into custody on June 25 last year along with former Gujarat Director General of Police R B Sreekumar and ex-IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt in a case registered by the Ahmedabad crime branch police for allegedly fabricating evidence to frame innocent people in the post-Godhra riots cases.
An Ahmedabad sessions court had on July 30, 2022 rejected the bail applications of Setalvad and Sreekumar, saying their release will send a message to wrongdoers that a person can level allegations with impunity and get away with it.
(With PTI inputs)
