Monday, April 23, 2012

SC calls case mala fide, stops Gujarat probe against Teesta

SC calls case mala fide, stops Gujarat probe against Teesta
IE 14APR2012


Calling it “malafide”, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the Gujarat government to stop investigation against social activist Teesta Setalvad for her alleged role in illegal exhumation of the bodies of the 2002 riot victims in Pandarwada. 
A bench of Justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Prakash Desai passed the order despite Gujarat government submitting that a chargesheet has already been filed in the case and an “offence made out”. “You must have read the FIR in the case and the FIR itself was a violation of human rights,” the Bench shot back at senior advocate Ravishanker Prasad. 
The bench was hearing a petition by Setalvad against an order passed by the Gujarat High Court on May 27, 2011, refusing to quash the FIR registered against her at a police station in Panchmahal district of the state on exhumation of the bodies from a graveyard near River Panam. 
The Gujarat government submitted that though initially Setalvad was not an accused in the case, during the investigation, she was found to have allegedly played a role and there are independent witnesses to support the charges against her. 
The court agreed to hear their side, but ordered status quo by ordering the probe to to be stopped. “Whatever position stands today shall remain,” the Bench said. It posted the case for July 18. 
‘200 pleas have major mistakes’ 
The CBI court hearing the 2G case on Friday noted that around 200 of the 410 applications filed before it till date contained “major mistakes” and warned the defence not to play such “tricks” with the court. 
Judge O P Saini said this after Cineyug Films director Karim Morani, an accused, filed an application seeking exemption from personal appearance during April 16-19 as he has to attend IPL matches on April 15 and 18. 
“These are tricks... I have told all of you to please be honest. I will allow your applications but please be honest,” the judge said. “Till date 410 applications have been filed... but around 200 have major mistakes.”