Withdraw 'concocted' case against Teesta Setalvad: CPM to Gujarat govt

NEW DELHI: Condemning Gujarat police for seeking to arrest social activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband, CPI(M) today demanded that the state government withdraw its "concocted" case against her.

"CPI(M) demands that the Gujarat government withdraw the concocted case against Setalvad and stop harassing her," the party said in a statement.

It said that Gujarat Police have targeted Setalvad because of her relentless championing of the rights of the victims of the Gujarat riots of 2002.

"While the Gujarat government is pursuing the harassment of Setalvad, it has been reinstating police officials who are facing serious criminal charges," the party charged.

Supreme Court today stayed till tomorrow the arrest of Setalvad and her husband, Javed Anand, soon after Gujarat High Court rejected their anticipatory bail plea in a case of alleged embezzlement of funds for a museum at the Gulbarg society, site of an attack during the 2002 riots.

Setalvad and her husband have been booked by the Crime Branch of Gujarat Police on charges of cheating, breach of trust and under provisions of the IT Act in a matter relating to the construction of a 'Museum of Resistance' in Gulbarg society in Ahmedabad.

"The Politburo of the party condemns the Gujarat Police move to arrest Setalvad and her husband in Mumbai," the party said.