Gujarat riots case: SC grants bail to activist Teesta Setalvad

The Supreme Court granted interim bail to social rights activist Teesta Setalvad in connection with the case for allegedly fabricating evidence to frame "innocent people" in the 2002 Gujarat riots cases. Setalvad was arrested on June 25, 2022.

The order passed by the bench of Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit and justices S Ravindra Bhat and Sudhanshu Dhulia directed Setalvad to surrender her passport with trial court till the time the Gujarat High Court decides her regular bail plea.

The top court also asked Setalvad to cooperate with the probe agency in investigation of alleged fabrication of evidence to frame people in riots cases.

The apex court made it clear that the order has been made from the standpoint of interim bail till the Gujarat High Court decide her bail plea independently and uninfluenced by any observations made by the supreme court.

Earlier on 1 September 2022, the top Court asked the reason for the delayed listing of activist Teesta Setalvad's bail plea by the Gujarat High Court, and asked whether "this lady has been made an exception".

It wondered why the high court listed the bail prayer for hearing on September 19, six weeks after it sent a notice to the state government seeking a response to her application.

With PTI Inputs

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