By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Mumbai: Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand have demanded an independent Investigation by any agency outside Gujarat supervised by the Supreme Court in the alleged misappropriation of fund case.
In a statement, they wrote, “We were extremely disturbed and upset by the Gujarat HC Order dated 12.2.2015 and are of course challenging it. After a detailed reading of the 63 page Order it is painfully clear that the Court has disregarded over 1500 pages of Documentary Evidence supplied by us since June 2014 to response to every single one of the allegations malafidely put out by the Prosecution that is the Crime Branch of the Gujarat Police.”
Teesta Setalvad (TCN file photo)
They asked for “fair hearing, not privilege.”
While the print media has been balanced, it is shocking that large sections of the television media have been like a Khap panchayat not even attempting to go into both sides, they said.
They said that they are and have always been prepared for a transparent and fair investigation. But wondered if the Crime Branch today within Gujarat —against whom we as CJP and Teesta individually — have collected documented evidence and also launched prosecutions that are pending; can such an Investigation ever be impartial or not vindictive?
“Let there be any independent Investigation by any agency outside Gujarat supervised by the Supreme Court take place,” they said, adding, “We will answer each and every charge, piece by piece, with documentary evidence. We have done no wrong. We have functioned legitimately. But in a truly free and fair country, the facts need to be examined in detail and dispassionately.”
A team of Gujarat Police and Mumbai police Thursday scouted the home of Setalvad im Mumbai after a Gujarat court declined her plea for anticipatory bail in a case relating to alleged embezzlement but the apex court restrained her arrest. She has got temporary respite from the Apex Court till February 19, when her case would be heard.
Meanwhile, trustees of Citizen for Justice & Peace (CJP) has issued a statement, “We have full faith in our fellow trustees Javed Anand and Secretary Teesta Setalvad, and we stand by them during these difficult times.”
“We have no doubt whatsoever regarding their honesty and integrity in the dealings of CJP. We are convinced that there is no factual basis to sustain the charge of embezzlement, and this has been asserted by the independent auditors of CJP,” the statement by trustees added.
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