New Delhi, Sep 2 : The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail to activist Teesta Setalvad who was detained for creating documents to indict high-ranking officials including Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, in the 2002 riots cases in the state.A bench, headed by Chief Justice U.U.Lalit as well as justices S.Ravindra Bhat and Sudhanshu Dhulia stated that as the crucial interrogation for custodial purposes is completed, the issue of interim bail ought to have been considered and also noted that her bail application is pending before the Gujarat High Court.
“We give Teesta Setalvad an temporary bail,” the bench said.
The top court has asked the supreme court to rule on her bail application, but in the meantime, Setalvad is out on bail in interim.She was able to petition to the apex courts after the Gujarat High Court made a long adjournment of her bail plea , but not making any decision of interim bail.
The Supreme Court also directed Setalvad to surrender her passport in the trial court.The court also clarified that the court will determine her bail plea on a regular basis and not be affected by the ruling.
During the hearing the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Gujarat government, requested the apex court not to create an “very poor precedent” by giving an unorthodox treatment to Setalvad in a time when the supreme court is in control of the matter.
The court of appeals stated that she was in custody since the 25th of June and the investigation apparatus had the benefit of her interrogation in custody of seven days that was followed by court-appointed custody.
On Thursday on Thursday, the Supreme Court had expressed concern that the Gujarat High Court in a bail plea of Setalvad, the bail plea of Setalvad and Setalvad, issued a notice of return that could last for six weeks.The court also asked the Gujarat government to record the specifics of the cases in which in the case of one woman the court granted an extended adjournment.
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