Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Police opposed the anticipatory bail plea filed by social activist Teesta Setalwad, her husband Javed Anand and two others in the Gulbarg Society fund embezzlement case here on Tuesday.
In an affidavit filed before sessions court judge HC Vora, the investigating officer of city crime branch ACP KN Patel stated that Teesta and others allegedly conspired to embezzle funds.
Opposing the bail plea, the investigating officer alleged that, Teesta Setalwad is trying to influence witnesses in this case by making them send sworn affidavits to his office.
He has also said that, "Witnesses like Rais Khan and others have testified against the accused".
"Two NGOs called Citizens for Justice and Peace and Sabrang Trust received huge amounts of funds for the Gulbarg victim from 2007 to 2014," the affidavit said.
"Certain amounts was also received from some foreign sources. Later, that amount was transferred to personal bank accounts of Setalvad, Javed Anand and their daughter Amily," the affidavit stated.
"As Setalvad did not want to give money to victims even after having passed a resolution that all residents agreed to sell their houses to her NGO, she did not buy the land for four years," the investigating officer's affidavit said.
"After four years, a resolution was passed by the society's chairman and secretary permitting residents to dispose off their properties as per their will. They made six fake signatures of the victims in this resolution," it stated.
Objecting to the investigating officer's affidavit, Teesta's counsel SM Vora contended that witnesses like Rais Khan (Setalwad's former aide) and others have testified against the accused.
"The complaint against Setalwad was filed at the instance of Rais Khan, but the city crime branch treating him as a witness," Vora said.
After hearing the contention, Sessions Judge HC Vora scheduled further hearing of the case to March 11.
On January 5, an FIR was lodged under Section 120 (B), 406 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 72 (A) of the IT Act against Setalvad, Anand, Tanvir Jafri and two others for allegedly usurping Rs 1.51 crore.
"Funds were collected from 2007-12 by Setalwad from abroad and the people under the promise that Gulbarg Society would be converted into a museum," said the FIR
"However, funds are lying as Fixed Deposits (FDs) with Setalvad," said the FIR lodged before City Crime branch office.
Gulbarg society's 12 residents had demanded Rs 1.51 crore from Setalwad last year alleging that money collected in their name was never distributed.
On February 28, 2002, following the Godhra train carnage, 68 people including former MP Ehsan Zafri were killed by mob at Gulbarg Society here during the riots.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, March 4, 2014, 22:32
