HC relief for Teesta, hubby in embezzlement case

In a relief to activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand, the Gujarat High Court has extended protection from arrest in a Rs 1.4 crore fund embezzlement case till June 13.

The matter pertains to a case against Teesta and Anand after an FIR was filed against them by one of their former associate Raeeskhan Pathan.

The complainant stated that Teesta and Anand, between 2010 and 2013, misappropriated Rs 1.4 crore received from Union ministry of human resources development for their education project "Khoj" under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

During this period, Teesta is said to have worked as a field co-coordinator for her NGO — Citizen for Justice and Peace — while her husband Javed Anand as the trustee of Sabrang Trust, with which Pathan was said to be associated.

The crime branch stated that the accused duo misused the funds allocated under Khoj project "to pay witnesses in serious cases in Gujarat (2002 riot cases) to make false deposition" and publish literature that spread communal enmity.

In their defence, Teesta and Anand maintain that the books published were written by some of the renowned writers and approved by the HRD ministry.

The payments, too, were made through cheques and details of bank accounts related to the funds were shared with the authorities.

They claimed police wanted their custody and that the complainant, Pathan, had a "personal grudge" against them.

The duo moved a plea for anticipatory bail after an FIR was filed against them.

On April 5, the Bombay High Court granted them interim transit bail till May 2, 2018.

The Supreme Court later provided for protection from arrest and further harassment till May 31, 2018, during which period she was slated to travel abroad.

The apex court had said that they would have to approach a competent court in Gujarat for extension of this protection.

Teesta and Anand then applied for an anticipatory bail in the Ahmedabad Sessions Court, which was turned down.

The duo approached the Gujarat High Court post that and on Monday, court of justice Biren Viashnav extended their interim protection till next hearing on June 12.