2002 post-Godhra riots case: SC sets aside Gujarat HC order, grants bail to activist Teesta Setalvad

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted regular bail to activist Teesta Setalvad in a case relating to the alleged fabrication of evidence to frame innocent people in the 2002 post-Gujarat riots.

A special bench of Justices B.R. Gavai, A.S. Bopanna, and Dipankar Datta set aside the Gujarat High Court’s order denying her regular bail, deprecating its reasoning that a prima facie presumption of commission of an offence could be made against her if proceedings to quash criminal charges were not instituted by Setalvad.

The top court went on to say that such a finding by the High Court was "perverse”.

While extending her regular bail, the apex court noted that the custodial interrogation of Setalvad is not required in the case as the charge sheet has already been filed before the trial court.

The Supreme Court also cautioned Setalvad to not make any attempt to influence witnesses related to the case. It clarified that the prosecution may directly approach the top court if she makes any such attempt or if there is any other change in circumstances.

Also, Setalvad’s passport will continue to remain deposited with the trial court while she is out on bail.

The top court was hearing the appeal of the activist Setalvad against the Gujarat High Court's order denying her regular bail and requiring her to "surrender immediately" in connection with an FIR lodged by the state police alleging fabrication of documents by her to implicate high government functionaries in 2002 Gujarat riots.

In a late evening special sitting convened on July 1, the apex court had granted her protection against arrest by staying the Gujarat High Court order of the same day.

Setalvad, who has been on interim bail since September last year, was asked by the Gujarat High Court to "surrender immediately" after rejecting her bail plea. She was arrested on June 25, 2022 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.

The charges against her include conspiring to falsely implicate innocent individuals in connection with the 2002 Gujarat riots. After seven days in police custody, she was sent to judicial custody on July 2.

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.

The High Court had on August 3, 2022, issued a notice to the state government on the bail plea of Setalvad and fixed the matter for hearing on September 19.

Meanwhile, she moved the Supreme Court (SC) for interim bail after the high court refused to consider her plea.

The apex court, on September 2 last year, granted her interim bail and asked her to surrender her passport with the trial court till the time the Gujarat High Court decided her regular bail plea.

With inputs from agencies