The case surrounding the freezing of assets of social activist Teesta Setalvad concluded today, with the Supreme Court reserving its judgment..The hearing before Justices Dipak Misra and AM Khanwilkar turned out to be rather eventful as both Senior Counsel Kapil Sibal and Additional Soilcitor General Tushar Mehta made vocal submissions..When the hearing began, ASG Mehta submitted various vouchers to the court indicating the personal expenses incurred by Teesta Setalvad, which he alleged had been siphoned out of the donations received by her..Sibal however responded strongly. He said that when those who gave the donations did not register any complaint, how could the Gujarat police take cognizance?.“I have supplied Ford Foundation with my accounts. They don’t have any complaint. How is it an offence if Ford Foundation does not file a complaint?.Is it government money? It is not. It is Ford Foundation’s money. If they don’t have any complaint or say they are cheated, how can it be an offence?”.Sibal alleged malafide on the part of the Gujarat police and then proceeded to argue on the merits of the submissions made by Mehta regarding the expenses incurred. He submitted,.“Take for example liquor. I have spent Rs. 7,000 in 7 years on liquor. Is that an offence? I meet somebody at a restaurant and somebody orders a drink and Gujarat police takes objection. I am shocked..Eating has already become a crime in this country. Is drinking also a crime now?”.Citing another voucher submitted by the Gujarat government, Sibal submitted sarcastically,.“This is for eating from Bade Miyan, a roadside eatery. This is the kind of luxury that Teesta Setalvad indulges in.”.Sibal further said that the vouchers relied upon by the Gujarat Government were those which were given by Teesta herself..“They are making these submissions based on the documents and vouchers supplied by us. They are alleging we siphoned off Rs 2.65 lakh and that too without any complaint from the donor..Offence he is alleging is not of FCRA violation but that I have diverted money to my personal accounts.”.Tushar Mehta then proceeded to give details of money alleged to be siphoned off by Setalvad. He referred to the complaint filed by Gulbarga Society members regarding collecting funds in the name of the 2002 Riot victims but failing to utilise the same for the benefit of the victims..The hearing was marked by constant interruptions by both counsel, even as the Bench remained largely silent..The Court then reserved its judgment after affording parties one week’s time to file written submissions.
The case surrounding the freezing of assets of social activist Teesta Setalvad concluded today, with the Supreme Court reserving its judgment..The hearing before Justices Dipak Misra and AM Khanwilkar turned out to be rather eventful as both Senior Counsel Kapil Sibal and Additional Soilcitor General Tushar Mehta made vocal submissions..When the hearing began, ASG Mehta submitted various vouchers to the court indicating the personal expenses incurred by Teesta Setalvad, which he alleged had been siphoned out of the donations received by her..Sibal however responded strongly. He said that when those who gave the donations did not register any complaint, how could the Gujarat police take cognizance?.“I have supplied Ford Foundation with my accounts. They don’t have any complaint. How is it an offence if Ford Foundation does not file a complaint?.Is it government money? It is not. It is Ford Foundation’s money. If they don’t have any complaint or say they are cheated, how can it be an offence?”.Sibal alleged malafide on the part of the Gujarat police and then proceeded to argue on the merits of the submissions made by Mehta regarding the expenses incurred. He submitted,.“Take for example liquor. I have spent Rs. 7,000 in 7 years on liquor. Is that an offence? I meet somebody at a restaurant and somebody orders a drink and Gujarat police takes objection. I am shocked..Eating has already become a crime in this country. Is drinking also a crime now?”.Citing another voucher submitted by the Gujarat government, Sibal submitted sarcastically,.“This is for eating from Bade Miyan, a roadside eatery. This is the kind of luxury that Teesta Setalvad indulges in.”.Sibal further said that the vouchers relied upon by the Gujarat Government were those which were given by Teesta herself..“They are making these submissions based on the documents and vouchers supplied by us. They are alleging we siphoned off Rs 2.65 lakh and that too without any complaint from the donor..Offence he is alleging is not of FCRA violation but that I have diverted money to my personal accounts.”.Tushar Mehta then proceeded to give details of money alleged to be siphoned off by Setalvad. He referred to the complaint filed by Gulbarga Society members regarding collecting funds in the name of the 2002 Riot victims but failing to utilise the same for the benefit of the victims..The hearing was marked by constant interruptions by both counsel, even as the Bench remained largely silent..The Court then reserved its judgment after affording parties one week’s time to file written submissions.
