Ahmedabad:

Controversial activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand today appeared before the crime branch of Ahmedabad Police here and recorded their statement in connection with a recent case of alleged misappropriation of fund collected from the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) during the erstwhile Congress led UPA government in the name of help of poor children.

The case was lodged under section 403, 406, 409 of the IPC on March 30 on the complaint of Teesta’s former aide Raees Khan. He alleged that the Sabrang Trust of Teesta and her husband got funds for from the MHRD between 2010 and 2013. The fund of approximately Rs 1.40 crore meant for education of poor children of Gujarat and Maharashtra and the riot victims of 2002 Gujarat riots was misused. Unkown officials of the MHRD and other directors of Sabrang Trust were also made accused in the case. But the couple was the only named accused in the matter.

Today Teesta and Javed’s statements were recorded for over seven hours.

DCP Crime Branch Dipen Bhadran said that the couple appeared in the crime branch office. ‘ACP C N Rajput recorded the statements,’ he said.

Rajput said that the statements were recorded one by one from 10 am to 0530 pm.

Notably, Teesta and her husband had got interim protection from arrest in the matter. The order was passed by Bombay High Court last Wednesday. The court however said that they should appear before the investigating agency (crime branch) whenever required.

DeshGujarat