SC asks Guj police to share details of documents with Teesta


New Delhi

The Supreme Court today asked Gujarat Police to give NGO operator Teesta Setalvad and her husband the list of documents needed from them in the probe against them in a case of alleged embezzlement of funds for a museum at Ahmedabad’s Gulbarg Society that was devastated in the 2002 riots.

A Bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and Adarsh Kumar Goel said the accused are also entitled to have the list which the state police has already provided to the apex court.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Setalvad, mentioned the issue saying that the couple has not received the list, the report of which has been in a section of media.

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Gujarat Government, said the list was not handed over to them as there was a likelihood of them filing some application.

The bench had on February 19 provided protection to Setalvad and Javed Anand and while reserving the judgement on their anticipatory bail directed the couple to supply to investigators all all documents, vouchers, list of donors in the two NGOs — Sabrang Trust and Citizens for Justice and Peace — run by them.

It was alleged by Gujarat Police that funds of the NGOs were allgedly used for personal purpose by them, a charge denied by Setalvad.

Gujarat Police on February 20 had provided to the apex court a list of documents, including those related to personal expenditure of Setalvad and her husband, it needed in its probe against them in a case.

Among other important documents, investigators have sought a list of donors, both foreign and local to their two NGOs along with the date of donation and the amount and their addresses and contact numbers since 2007 till date.

The Crime Branch, Ahmedabad, had placed a list of 33 documents like copies of all credit card bills held and used by Setalvad and Javed Anand from April 2008 to December 2014 along with the statement of payments made towards these credit card bills from their personal accounts with supporting vouchers/document. (More) PTI SJK RKS

The police have also sought statement disclosing which items in the bills of the credit cards pertain to personal expenditure of the couple and those made in connection with the trust.

Among other documents, the investigators have demanded vouchers/invoices in respect of the items of expenditure in credit cards bills which were claimed to have been incurred in connection with the object of the trust.

Further, the police had sought documents which will provide details regarding nature of business from which income has been earned as per the income tax returns filed by Setalvad and her husband under the heading business income.

Details of all gifts made to them from April 2008 to March 2014 by parents as well as by other donors have been sought by police which want to know whether they were made by cheque or cash with the identities and addresses of persons.

Other documents relate to the banks and account books and list of every donor foreign and local to Sabrang Communication and Publishing Pvt. Ltd. from October 2007 till date, with their addresses and contact numbers.

Police have also sought documents to verify details of cash donations received with names of donors and its utilization and all bank account details, current and savings, of Sabrang Trust and CJP from 2007 onwards till date along with vouchers and invoices.

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