SC for disposal of pleas to defreeze Teesta’s accounts

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave two weeks’ time to Gujarat to file its response to social activist Teesta Setalvad’s petition challenging the state police’s order to freeze her personal and NGO’s accounts.

A bench of justice Dipak Misra and justice Amitava Roy told additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta that the response should be submitted by November 16 and fixed December 1 to hear the matter again.

The court told Mehta that this is the last opportunity given to Gujarat to place its response after Setalvad’s advocate, senior counsel Kapil Sibal, complained the government had taken adjournment twice in the past.

“My accounts are frozen for nearly three years now. Either they should reply or hear my plea,” Sibal told the bench.

Setalvad, her husband, and the two NGOs -- Sabrang Trust and Citizens for Justice and Peace -- have approached the apex court challenging the October 7, 2016, Gujarat high court verdict that rejected their pleas for defreezing their personal bank accounts.

One of the residents of Gulberg Society, Firoz Khan Pathan, had filed a complaint against Setalvad and others accusing them of raising money to construct a museum dedicated to those who died during the 2002 Gujarat riots at Gulberg Society. But, he alleged, the money was not utilised for the purpose.