National
SC rejects Teesta’s plea to unfreeze bank accounts
New Delhi, Dec 15 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea by social activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand for unfreezing of their bank accounts put under restrictions by Gujarat Police on the charge of misuse of donations.
The donations were allegedly collected in the name of Gulberg Cooperative Housing Society, which was targeted by rioting mobs during the 2002 riots in the state after a fire in the Sabarmati Express at the Godhra railway station burnt alive 59 karsevaks arriving from Ayodhya.
Dismissing the plea, a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said an investigation in the matter was in progress and both have to explain their positions to the Investigating Officer.
Two NGOs — Citizens for Justice and Peace, and Sabrang Trust — had also moved the apex court to seek unfreezing of their accounts. The two NGOs are headed by Setalvad and Javed Anand.
The couple had challenged the October 2015 Gujarat High Court order that declined their plea for unfreezing of the accounts.
The accounts were seized following a complaint that they had misutilised huge funds collected with an avowed objective of helping victims of Gulberg Society by projecting their plight in the wake of the 2002 post-Godhra Gujarat riots.
“Indisputably, investigation is still in progress. The appellants (Teesta Setalvad, Javed Anand and their two NGOs) will have to explain their position to the investigating agency and after investigation is complete, the matter can proceed further depending on the material gathered during the investigation,” said Justice Khanwilkar while pronouncing the judgment.
“The suspicion entertained by the investigating agency as to how the appellants appropriated huge funds, which in fact were meant to be disbursed to the unfortunate victims of the 2002 riots will have to be explained by the appellants,” the apex court said.
The court said once the investigation was completed and police report was submitted to the court concerned, it would be open to Teesta and Javed Anand to apply for unfreezing of the bank accounts.
“It will be open to the court concerned to consider that request in accordance with law after hearing the investigating agency, including to impose conditions as may be warranted in the facts of the case.”
The apex court said this while addressing a common question raised in the four appeals on the sweep, purport and applicability of Section 102 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, which empowers police to seize certain property.
The court clarified that upon the completion of investigation, if the Investigating Officer is satisfied with the explanation offered by the appellants and is of the opinion that the continuance of seizure of the bank accounts or any one of them is not necessary, he will be well advised to issue instructions on that behalf.
In our opinion, the court said, such a course would meet the ends of justice.
–IANS
pk/tsb/bg
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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