Teesta Satalvad
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2002: Allegations
The Times of India, Jul 23 2015
Teesta splurged riot relief on wine, hairdos, Guj cops tell SC
AmitAnand Choudhary
Gujarat police has told the Supreme Court that social activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand had used 2002 riot victims as “poster boys“ to raise Rs 6-7 crore but indulged in a colossal fraud, using most of the money for their personal expenses. The state police said that as trustees of the two NGOs -Sabrang Trust and Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) -Teesta and her husband misappropriated the funds for consumption of liquor, wining and dinning at expensive restaurants, purchase of personal items and even on an expensive hairdo at Rome and in Pakistan.
Police have alleged that Teesta claimed Rs 5,000 as reimbursements for the hairdo in Rome and another Rs 3,800 for the one in Pakistan. The expenses were put under the “secular education or legal aid expenses“ head.
“In spite of using the Gulbarg Society and its members' plight as poster boys for the collection of funds, no financial support was ever disbursed, no rent was reimbursed and absolutely no funds were received for rehabilitation of the affected per sons. No steps were taken for the reconstruction of the houses of the inhabitants of Gulbarg society , nor the society was converted into museum,“ the Gujarat cops said as they opposed the anticipatory bail granted by the court to Teesta and her husband.
Police contended that only a minuscule part of the big amount raised for the welfare of riots victims and for construction of `Gulbarg Society Museum of Resistance' was spent for the stated purpose, the bulk of it being cornered by Teesta and her husband. The affidavit alleges that Teesta and Javed, who have no source of income, have been dependent on the funds raised for the riot victims for their “livelihood“.
The affidavit said Teesta drew an annual salary ranging from Rs 1,79,400 in 2008 to Rs 8,75,800 in 2013 and similarly remuneration drawn by her husband increased from Rs 2,40,000 in 2008 to Rs 8,61,000 in 2013. “It is to be noted that 45% of the total funds received in 2008-13 by the Sabrang Trust have found their way to the petitioners either directly or through Sabrang Communication Pvt Limited which was fully owned by them,“ the affidavit said.
