Teesta, husband lavished funds for luxuries: Gujarat police to SC

In an affidavit filed, the Gujarat Police have told the Supreme Court that social activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand utilised the funds collected for the welfare of the 2002 Gujarat-riot victims for their personal luxuries.

The police said the two used the victims as “poster boys” to collect funds in crores and then committed a fraud by squandering them on food at expensive restaurants and hairdos in Rome and Pakistan.

According to the allegations made by the Gujrat Police, Setalvad and her husband claimed Rs 5,000 as reimbursements for the hairdo in Rome and Pakistan and settled the charges under the expenses of Secular Education and Legal Aid.

Only a handful of the amount collected was utilised for the welfare of the victims, the police claimed, while opposing the anticipatory bail that the Apex court has granted to Teesta and her husband. The police said in the affidavit that Setalvad and her husband, who have no source of income, have been dependent on the funds raised for the riot victims for their livelihood.

Meanwhile, prominent social activists and politicians have come out in Teesta’s defence.

Teesta and her husband’s Mumbai residence were recently raided by the CBI officials. Teesta Setalvad, a journalist-turned-social activist has been working for the welfare of the victims of 2002 Gujrat riots through her NGO’s Sabrang Trust and Citizens for Justice and Peace.

(With inputs from The Times Of India)

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About Suyash Karangutkar

Suyash Karangutkar is a young, dedicated and an enthusiastic journalist who has a deep interest in National and International Affairs. He is an ardent political spectator who finds politics fascinating. At Spectralhues, he heads the Mumbai team and covers National Affairs & Politics. He also occasionally writes columns for Spectralhues. He can be followed on Twitter @columnistsuyash