Justice Samir Dave rescues from hearing Teesta Setalvad’s petition
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Ahmedabad: Justice Samir Dave of the Gujarat High Court on Thursday rescued himself from engaging in a case involving Mumbai-based activist Teesta Setalvad.
Teesta Setalvad sought the court to squash the FIR against her over allegedly ‘fabricating evidence in relation to the 2002 Gujarat riot cases’, The Indian Express reported.
Justice Dave responded with ‘Not before me’, when advocate Somnath Vatsa referred the matter for hearing.
The Gujarat High Court Chief Justice will have to place the matter before appropriate court.
Justice Dave previously in November rescued himself from hearing Setalvad’s bail application in the case.
The Detection of Crime Branch police station in Ahmedabad filed the FIR against the activist.
The chargesheet says that Setalvad involved in a conspiracy to fabricate false case evidence to implicate the chief minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi and top official of the state for the 2002 communal riots.
Setalvad is facing charges under multiple sections of Indian Penal Code; they include sections ‘468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 469 (forgery), 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record), 194 (giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of capital offence), 211 (false charge of offence made with intent to injure), 218 (public servant framing incorrect record or writing with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture) and 120B (criminal conspiracy)’, according to the report.
The Supreme Court on July 19 granted bail to the activist; however, an Ahmedabad court refused to discharge her from the charges on the ground of ‘prima facie evidence’ against her.