Social activist Teesta Setalvad, earlier this week, was charged by the Special Investigation Team for fabricating evidence in the 2002 Gujrat Riots. She was arrested on grounds of forgery by Gujrat Police. Setalvad has briskly denied her involvement in the conspiracy and receiving money from the late Congress leader Ahmad Patel.
She has also denied her inclusion in the ‘larger conspiracy’ to destabilise the government and frame anyone involved in the communal riots of 2002.
Her lawyer has argued against all the charges imposed on her by the Special Investigation Team appointed by the state government, to substantiate the case during her plea for bail in the Ahmedabad High Court.
A further hearing in the case will take place on July 20th.
Another accused IPS officer, R.B. Sreekumar has also denied the charges levelled by the state government.
According to the affidavit filed by the police, Teesta Setalvad, Padma Sri laureate R.B. Sreekumar and Sanjeev Bhatt were part of a ‘larger conspiracy’ when they attempted to frame the top functionaries of the government for instigating communal riots in Godra, Gujrat in 2002.
The affidavit stated, “There was a conspiracy to malign the image of Gujarat and that was hatched at the behest of the late Ahmed Patel.”
The police have also stated testimony of two witnesses who declared “Teesta has received money” to carry out the work and malign the then CM and target the elected government.
Session judge D.D. Takkar is hearing the bail plea of the social activist along with the other two accused.