SC for final disposal of pleas to defreeze a/c of Teesta, others

The Supreme Court would next month take up the pleas filed by social activist Teesta Setalvad and her two controversial NGOs challenging the freezing of their accounts by the Ahmedabad Police for final disposal.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Amitava Roy directed Gujarat government to file its response on the pleas by November 16 and rejoinder thereafter in a week, while fixing December one for final disposal of the pleas.

Senior counsel Kapil Sibal appearing for Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand alleged that Gujarat government had taken three adjournments in the matter, after notice was issued to them and their accounts have remained frozen for nearly three years. 

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Gujarat government, said the state needed some time to file the reply to the pleas. The bench granted time till November 16 to the state government to file the response and posted the matter for final disposal on December 1. 

Teesta, her husband and the two NGOs -- Sabrang Trust and Citizens for Justice and Peace -- have approached the apex court challenging the October 7, 2016, verdict of the Gujarat High Court which had 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 alleging that money was raised to make a museum at Gulberg Society in the memory of those who were killed during the 2002 Gujarat riots, but it had not been utilised for the purpose.