Without warrant, Gujarat cops land at Teesta’s house for search

Even as the Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday termed the condemnation of activist Teesta Setalvad’s arrest by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights as “unwarranted”, officials from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) reached Mumbai to conduct a search of her residence. However, the team had to return empty handed, as they had come without any warrant or requisite documents.

According to police sources, the team reached Santacruz at around 11 am on Wednesday and sought assistance from the local police. Accordingly, a constable was provided to them and they proceeded to Setalvad’s residence.

A senior Mumbai police officer said, “The Gujarat police, however, did not have a warrant to conduct the search. Her lawyer learned about this and rushed to her residence.” After a face-off that lasted for over an hour, the Gujarat police team finally relented and left the scene.

Senior police inspector Balasaheb Tambe confirmed the development and said, “There were some technical issues but it is best if this question is posed to the Gujarat police.”

The Free Press Journal contacted Deputy Inspector General Deepan Bhadran, who is heading the SIT. He said, “It is an ongoing investigation and we cannot comment on it.”

Setalvad was picked up from her Santacruz residence on June 26 and placed under arrest after the Supreme Court gave Prime Minister Narendra Modi a clean chit in connection with the 2002 riots in Gujarat. The apex court had passed strictures against her as well as former Gujarat cops RB Sreekumar and Sanjiv Bhatt in its judgement. Setalvad and Sreekumar are currently in the Gujarat police’s custody.

Setalvad and Sreekumar have been charged with giving or fabricating false evidence, forgery for the purpose of cheating, using forged documents as genuine and criminal conspiracy of the Indian Penal Code.