
Setalvad and Anand sought pre-arrest protection after Gujarat cops filed an FIR on January 4 in an alleged case of breach of trust and misappropriation of funds. The FIR said both in the guise of collecting funds for Sabrang Trust to set up a museum for 2002 Gujarat riots victims had allegedly misappropriated the funds. The FIR invoked Section 72A of the Information Technology Act for disclosure in breach of lawful contract.
Setalvad and Anand pleaded that the FIR filed by the Crime Branch of Ahmedabad police was filed with mala fide intent. "The FIR is a mala fide action of the Crime Branch, Ahmedabad, to intimidate a human rights defender. This is the fifth time that a false criminal case has been lodged since 2004 because of me and my organization's consistent legal support to the victims of 2002 riots," the bail application stated. It said "Gulbarga cooperative housing society had been totally burnt down by politically motivated anti-social elements and 68 people had lost their lives in the massacre."
The applicants alleged that the FIR was the latest effort of intimidation by the "powerful forces in Gujarat who wish(ed) to stymie the appeal in the Zakia Jafri case".
The HC granted interim bail of three weeks.


Comments
Add new comment