Teesta Setalvad’s interim bail in Gujarat riots case extended by SC till July 19
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New Delhi: Teesta Setalvad's interim bail was extended by the Supreme Court on Wednesday till further orders, according to The Bar and Bench.
The appeal against the Gujarat High Court's decision to refuse her bail and compel her to appear before the authorities "immediately" will be heard and determined on July 19, the Supreme Court announced, Indian Express reported.
Rejecting Setalvad’s bail plea last Saturday, the Gujarat HC observed that granting her bail would “deepen and widen communal polarisation” at a time when “we are heading towards progress of the country with an effort to strengthen communal harmony and brotherhood”.
Setalvad is charged with manipulating evidence related to the riots in Gujarat in 2002.
A three-judge Supreme Court bench had given her temporary protection and overturned the Gujarat HC order within hours of it being issued. The stay was in effect for one week.
Expressing surprise at the HC’s order, Justice Gavai said: “What is the urgency in taking her into custody? Will the skies fall if interim protection is granted for some days? What is the alarming urgency?”
The SC bench said that “in ordinary circumstances”, it would not have considered the request for a stay. “However, it is to be noted that after the FIR was registered against the petitioner on 25.06.2022 and the petitioner was arrested, this court, considering the application for grant of interim bail, had granted the same on certain conditions, vide order dated 02.09.2022.”