SC allows Teesta Setalvad to travel to Malaysia after she submits undertaking

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has granted controversial NGO operator Teesta Setalvad permission to travel to Malaysia for a conference from August 31 to September 10, provided she submits an undertaking to return to India as scheduled.

Last July, the Supreme Court granted her regular bail in a case involving the alleged fabrication of documents related to the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

During the hearing, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Setalvad, informed a bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan that she had submitted a request for international travel, as the court had previously ordered that her passport remain with the sessions court.

Setalvad sought permission to travel to Malaysia for an anti-racism conference from August 31 to September 10.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Gujarat government, suggested that Setalvad should be required to file an undertaking before the court to ensure her return.

The bench acknowledged Mehta’s point, and while allowing Setalvad to travel, it stated, “The petitioner (Setalvad) shall submit an undertaking to this court affirming her return to India as planned and her commitment to face the trial.” The bench also noted that she must provide a solvent surety of ₹10 lakh to the satisfaction of the sessions court.

Upon her return from Malaysia, Setalvad is required to surrender her passport to the trial judge. DeshGujarat