New Delhi: Social activist Teesta Setalvad, accused of receiving foreign funds in violation of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), today got anticipatory bail from Bombay High Court.
Justice Mridula Bhatkar observed there was no need of custodial interrogation.
“Prima facie, I am of the view, their (prosecution) case is based on accounts and documents… If the accounts are not maintained, the prosecution is free to frame charges and proceed,” said Justice Bhatkar.
Two weeks ago, the HC had extended Setalvad and her husband's interim bail after a special CBI court had rejected their anticipatory bail plea.
Teesta had moved to HC after the CBI court refused to grant him anticipatory bail in a case against her firm for allegedly receiving around US $2.9 lakh in foreign donations in violation of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
The CBI registered a case on July 8 against Sabrang Communication and Publishing Private Limited for allegedly receiving around US $2.9 lakh in foreign donations in violation of FCRA.
The organisation needed to seek prior approval of the Union Home Ministry for the foreign fund, the CBI said.
Setalvad has also been charged by the Gujarat police of embezzling funds donated to her NGOs for 2002 Gujarat riots victims and using it for her own leisure. She has denied any wrongdoing and claims that she is being persecuted for her legal attempts to hold Prime Minister Narendra Modi complicit in the violence.
