‘Alleged Activist’ Teesta Setalvad is widely regarded as a great humanitarian who has dedicated her life to the welfare of marginalized communities in liberal echo chambers. Meanwhile, She rose to national prominence as a result of her involvement in the Gujarat riots case and the tireless campaign she ran against then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Not only this, Teesta Setalvad was given Padma Shri in 2007 by the Congress government.

Teesta became more popular when she was exposed for stealing funds intended for the service of those affected by the Gujarat riots. A former associate of Teesta Setalvad, Raees Khan had filed a complaint with the Ahmedabad Crime Branch.

One of her trusts was also found to be in violation of the country’s FCRA laws. Teesta’s company, Sabrang Communication and Publishing Pvt Limited (SCPPL), received a $2.9 lakh grant from the Ford Foundation to “address communalism and caste-based discrimination in India, including media strategies.” However, unlike the Sabrang Trust, this company was not registered under the FCRA.

Gujarat Police stated that Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand have committed “colossal fraud” that is they spent money raised for the construction of a memorial for riot victims and their aid on personal expenses such as wine and liquor, expensive mobile phones, movie CDs, romantic novels, hair-styling, and dining, among other things.

According to the police, the two “misappropriated charity funds and converted to their own use funds meant for the rehabilitation and welfare of the unfortunate victims of riots in Gujarat in February-March.” The investigation revealed that Setalvad had claimed reimbursement for the purchase of sanitary napkins, and “surprisingly,” so had her husband.

The investigation also revealed that 45 percent of the funds received by Sabrang Trust between 2008 and 2013 were transferred directly or through SCPPL to Setalvad and her husband. It also stated that she was paid Rs. 8.75 lakhs and flew 113 times per year.

Teesta Setalvad is also charged with fraudulently obtaining central government funds worth Rs. 1.4 crore for her NGO Sabrang between 2010 and 2013.

Raees Khan also added that in his complaint with the Ahmedabad crime branch alleging that funds intended for educational purposes were misappropriated. The HRD ministry, then led by Kapil Sibal, allegedly illegally sanctioned funds for her ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan.’

Previously, Teesta’s company, Sabrang Communication and Publishing Pvt Limited, received a $2.9 lakh grant from the Ford Foundation to “address communalism and caste-based discrimination in India, including media strategies.” However, unlike the Sabrang Trust, this company was not registered under the FCRA and thus it committed a violation.

It was also reported in 2011 that a key prosecution witness in the Best Bakery case claimed Teesta duped and misled her into giving false testimony. The witness, Shaikh Yasmeen Banu, also claimed that Rais Khan, Teesta’s alleged close aide, met with her along with Muslim leaders to allege a threat to her life and asked her to relocate to Mumbai where she would be cared for.

Later in 2014, Teesta was charged with multiple charges in Gujarat for tweeting offensive images of Hindu gods. She was charged with promoting religious enmity and deliberate, malicious acts intended to incite religious feelings under sections 153 (a) and 295 (a) of the IPC, respectively. She is booked under Sections 65, 66(a), 66(b), and 67.

Recently, Supreme Court upheld SITs clean chit by hearing a plea by Zakia Jafri which was also motivated by Teesta Setalvad. The Supreme Court stated that the “appeal is devoid of merit.” A bench led by Justice A M Khanwilkar declined to order an investigation into claims of a “larger conspiracy” behind the Gujarat riots.

Teesta Setalvad along with Ex IPS Sanjiv Bhatt and R B Sreekumar was charged for forgery under sections 468 (Forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using forged document or record as genuine), 194 (Giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of capital offense), 211 (False charge of offense made with intent to injure), 218 (Public servant framing incorrect record), and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the India Penal Code.

Meanwhile, Teesta has been detained and is taken to Ahmedabad by the Gujarat ATS.

 

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