Mumbai: While the Supreme Court has put a stay on the arrest of 2002-Gujarat riots activist Teesta Setalvad till February 19, she, on Saturday, has demanded an independent probe to be conducted by any agency outside Gujarat and supervised by the Supreme Court.
Saying that she and her husband were “extremely disturbed and upset” by the Gujarat High Court Order, which cancelled their anticipatory plea on Thursday; Setalvad also questioned the credentials of Gujarat Crime Branch.
She posted an open question on Facebook, “We are and have always been prepared for a transparent and fair investigation. But can the Crime Branch today within Gujarat have collected documented evidence and also launched prosecutions that are pending? Can such an Investigation ever be impartial or not vindictive?”
After having gone through the 63-page long High Court order, she said that it was “painfully clear that the court has disregarded over 1500 pages of documentary evidence” that she has supplied since June 2014 in response to the allegations put on her by the Gujarat Police Crime Branch.
As reported by The Hindu, she said, “We ask for fair hearing, not privilege.”
She said that they will answer each and every charge piece by piece with documentary evidence.
She claimed that they have done no wrong and have functioned legitimately.
“But in a truly free and fair country, the facts need to be examined in detail and dispassionately”, she said.
She also accused the large sections of media for acting like khap panchayats while searching her.
Reportedly, Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand, are accused of misusing the funds meant for the construction of a memorial for the Gujarat 2002-riot victims.
