Supreme Court grants regular bail to Teesta Setalvad

The Supreme Court on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, granted regular bail to Teesta Setalvad in the case of forging documents and influencing witnesses after the Godhra riots in the Indian state of Gujarat.

The apex court said that since Teesta has been charge sheeted and her custodial interrogation has been completed, she should be granted bail.

The court said that she will not influence any witness while on bail and if she does so, the prosecution can directly approach us to cancel the bail.

The Supreme Court in its order dated Wednesday, July 19, 2023, also set aside the Gujarat High Court order which had rejected his regular bail and asked him to surrender immediately.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice BR Gavai has passed this order.

Who is Teesta Setalvad?

Human rights activist Teesta Setalvad is one of the most prominent figures in taking the accused of the 2002 riots to court in Gujarat.

Teesta Setalvad and her organization 'Citizens for Justice and Peace' have fought 68 cases to get 'justice' for the Gujarat riot victims and punished more than 170 people in which more than 1000 people were killed.

Teesta was born in 1962 in a senior lawyer family in Mumbai. His grandfather MC Setalvad was the first Attorney-General of India. He remained on this post from 1950 to 1963.