No chargesheet has been filed, SC made Teesta Setalvad’s anticipatory bail order absolute

The Supreme Court (SC) bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia, Sanjay Kishan Kaul, and Prashant K. Mishra made absolute its earlier order granting interim anticipatory bail to Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand in connection with the misappropriating funds case. This decision was given remarking that significant time had passed and no chargesheet had been filed. The order reads, “Chargesheet has not yet been filed. ASG submits that same is on account of non-cooperation on the part of respondents. Be that as it may, the appropriate order to be passed would be to direct the respondents to continue to cooperate with the investigation. Order already granted is made absolute.” 

The SC bench disposed of the Gujarat High Court’s initial decision to deny anticipatory bail in 2015. While disposing of the petitions challenging her anticipatory bail in February 2019, the bench said, “The special leave petitions were filed challenging the grant of bail on certain terms and conditions. A considerable passage of time has already elapsed. On our query, we are informed that even the chargesheet has not been filed. ASG submits that there is an element of lack of cooperation on the part of the respondent, which is why the chargesheet has not been filed. But that as it may, all that we would like to say at this stage is, respondents (Teesta Setalvad and her husband) will cooperate with the investigation as and when they are required to.”

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju appeared for Teesta Setalvad and the Gujarat Government respectively.