Gujarat government accuses Teesta Setalwad of misuse of NGO funds

AHMEDABAD: The prosecution today alleged that the NGO `Citizens for Justice and Peace', run by Teesta Setalwad who has consistently taken up the cause of 2002 Gujarat riots victims, got a huge amount of foreign funds and misappropriated them.

"In 2007, JP had very negligible amount of funds, but till February 20 this year their accounts have flourished with donations of crores of rupees," said special public prosecutor Ajay Choksi at the sessions court here.

Opposing Setalwad's anticipatory bail plea, Choksi, representing the Ahmedabad crime branch, accused her and her husband Javed Anand of syphoning off funds.

Twelve Residents of Gulbarg Society here demanded Rs 1.51 crore from Setalwad last year alleging that the money collected ostensibly for them was never disbursed.

In one of the worst massacres during the post-Godhra riots, 68 people including former Congress MP, Ehsan Zafri were killed at Gulbarg Society on February 28, 2002.

Choksi today alleged that "they have got foreign aid in the name of building mausoleum for the riot victims at the Gulbarg Society.

"CJP's two bank accounts have got Rs 1.31 crore and Rs 4.97 crore respectively as a foreign donation. While Sabrang trust, another NGO run by Setalwad and Javed Anand, has got foreign donation of Rs 2.62 crore in the last seven years."

Choksi has also told the court that Setalwad and Anand grabbed copyrights for the CDs and books which compile accounts of the riot-victims.

"They have started Sabrang Communication and Publication Private Limited and took all the rights of publishing the CDs and books. They have not given the publishing rights to any other party," the prosecutor alleged.

On January 5, an FIR was lodged under sections 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy), 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code and a section of Information Technology Act against Setalwad, Anand, Tanvir Jafri ( Ehsan Jafri's son) and two others for allegedly usurping Rs 1.51 crore.

Setalwad has argued that the state was trying to frame her up. Her NGO had got Rs 1.33 crore from foreign donors and not Rs 2.62 crore as contended by the state, she has said in her affidavit. "Only Rs 50,000 was received for the Gulbarg Memorial (mausoleum)," it adds.

Setalwad had also challenged Crime Branch's jurisdiction to examine these issues.

The arguments will continue on March 18 before judge H C Vora.