Editing Teesta Setalvad

{{short description|Indian activist and journalist (born 1962)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Teesta Setalvad
| image              = Teestapic.jpg
| caption            = Setalvad in 2015
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1962|2|09}}
| birth_place        = [[Bombay]] (now [[Mumbai]]), [[Maharashtra]], India
| occupation         = Civil rights activist and journalist
| spouse             = {{marriage|[[Javed Anand]]|1987}}
| children           = 2
| parents            = Sita Setalvad (mother)<br/>Atul Setalvad (father)
| relatives          = [[M. C. Setalvad]] (paternal grandfather)
}}

'''Teesta Setalvad''' (born 9 February 1962)<ref name=Dob>{{cite web|title=Teesta Setalvad|url=http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/menschenrechte_e/setalvad_e.html|publisher=Human Rights office of the city of Nuremberg}}</ref> is an Indian civil rights activist and journalist. She is the secretary of ''Citizens for Justice and Peace'' (CJP), an organisation formed to advocate for the victims of [[2002 Gujarat riots]].

==Personal life==
Born in 1962 into a [[Gujarati people|Gujarati]] family, Setalvad is the daughter of Atul Setalvad, a Mumbai-based lawyer, and his wife Sita Setalvad. Her paternal grandfather was [[M. C. Setalvad]], India's first Attorney General.<ref name="exilclub.de">{{cite web|url=http://www.exilclub.de/groups/menschenrechte/_hpgen_content10.htm |title=Nürnberger Menschenrechtspreisträger 2003 |language=de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308184841/http://www.exilclub.de/groups/menschenrechte/_hpgen_content10.htm |archive-date=8 March 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.academicfoundation.com/n_detail/IndiaTND.asp| title=India THE NEXT DECADE| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070625144706/http://academicfoundation.com/n_detail/IndiaTND.asp| archive-date=25 June 2007| df=dmy-all}}</ref> Setalvad married [[Javed Anand]], a journalist turned minority rights activist. They have two children, a daughter and a son.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sabrangindia.in/ann/nuernberg-human-rights-award-teesta-setalvad%E2%80%99s-acceptance-speech|title=Nuernberg Human Rights Award -Teesta Setalvad's acceptance speech|date=14 September 2003|website=SabrangIndia|access-date=3 April 2019|archive-date=3 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403174618/https://sabrangindia.in/ann/nuernberg-human-rights-award-teesta-setalvad%E2%80%99s-acceptance-speech|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Career==
In a public discussion at the Press club in March 2017, Teesta recounted that despite coming from a family steeped in a legal heritage, she decided to pursue a career in journalism after reading a book that her father had bought her called "[[All the President's Men|All the President's men]]".<ref name="Barstow">{{Cite news|last=Barstow|first=David|date=2015-08-19|title=Longtime Critic of Modi Is Now a Target|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/20/world/asia/teesta-setalvad-modi-india.html|access-date=2020-06-10|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> She subsequently went to college, studied law for two years, dropped out and then graduated with a bachelor's degree in philosophy from [[Bombay University]] in 1983 and started work as a journalist.<ref name="Harvard">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hks.harvard.edu/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903045505/http://www.ksghauser.harvard.edu/socialmovementsworkshops/includes/Personal%20History%20Teesta.doc|url-status=dead|title=Harvard Kennedy School|archive-date=3 September 2006|website=www.hks.harvard.edu|access-date=3 April 2019}}</ref> She reported for the Mumbai editions of ''The Daily (India)'' and ''[[The Indian Express]]'' newspapers, and later for ''[[Business India]]'' magazine. Her first brush with communal violence came when she covered the riots in 1984 in [[Bhiwandi]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Memory cannot be allowed to lapse: Teesta Setalvad|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/memory-cannot-be-allowed-to-lapse-teesta-setalvad/article17365951.ece|access-date=23 December 2017|work=The Hindu|date=25 February 2017}}</ref>

Setalvad's career as a mainstream journalist was a decade long. In 1993, in response to the Hindu-Muslim riots in Mumbai, she and her husband quit their regular jobs to start ''[[Communalism Combat]]'', a monthly  magazine.<ref name="Barstow"/> According to [[Javed Anand]] (Setalvad's husband and co-founder of Communalism Combat), the decision to break from mainstream journalism to start a magazine was because it was also a platform which gave them an opportunity to intervene in ways which they couldn't have otherwise. The last print copy of the magazine was printed in November 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Combating Communalism|url=https://jacobinmag.com/2015/12/modi-hindutva-gujarat-riots-rss-bjp-communalism-combat/|access-date=2020-06-10|website=jacobinmag.com|language=en-US}}</ref> Subsequently, they moved to the digital domain by starting a website, which has subsequently been inactive.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sabrang Communications & Publishing Pvt Ltd.|url=https://www.sabrang.com/|access-date=2020-06-10|website=www.sabrang.com}}</ref>

Setalvad and her husband, along with others such as Father [[Cedric Prakash]] (a [[catholic]] priest), [[Anil Dharker]] (a journalist), [[Alyque Padamsee]], [[Javed Akhtar]], [[Vijay Tendulkar]] and [[Rahul Bose]] (all film & theatre personalities) set up an [[NGO]] named "Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP)" on 1 April 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cjponline.org/aboutus.htm |title=About Us |last1=Anonymous |date=n.d. |website=Citizens for Justice and Peace |access-date=27 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825025907/http://cjponline.org/aboutus.htm |archive-date=25 August 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The NGO forthwith began to litigate in various courts against the alleged complicity of the [[Chief Minister of Gujarat|Chief Minister]] and government of [[Gujarat]] state in the riots that had broken out shortly before. Their efforts met with partial success in April 2004, when the [[Supreme Court of India]] transferred the "[[Best Bakery case]]" to the neighbouring state of [[Maharashtra]]. At the same time, the court also overturned the recent acquittal of 21 accused and ordered that the investigation and trial be conducted afresh.<ref name="TH-20040426">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/04/26/stories/2004042611590300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040626153210/http://www.hindu.com/2004/04/26/stories/2004042611590300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 June 2004|title=Minorities still living in fear in Gujarat: Setalvad|date=26 April 2004|access-date=26 March 2013|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> By 2013, all the cases filed by CPJ had been dismissed at three levels of the judiciary (trial court, state High Court and the Indian Supreme Court) and only one appeal is pending. This is an appeal to the Supreme Court against a conviction handed out by the High Court to [[Maya Kodnani]], a former minister in the government of [[Gujarat]].

Teesta wrote the book ''A Footsoldier of the Constitution: A Memoir'' (2017) about her experiences in Gujarat. Her chapter, 'Being Their Target', from this book was reprinted in ''The Hunger of the Republic: Our Present in Retrospect'' (2021), part of the [[India Since the 90s]] series published by [[Tulika Books]].

She has also authored the chapter ''When Guardians Betray:The Role of the Police'' in the book [[Gujarat The making of a tragedy|Gujarat:The making of a tragedy]], edited by [[Siddharth Varadarajan]] and published by Penguin. The book is about the [[2002 Gujarat riots]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/52040680|title=Gujarat, the making of a tragedy|date=2002|publisher=Penguin Books|others=Varadarajan, Siddharth|isbn=0-14-302901-0|location=New Delhi|oclc=52040680}}</ref>

=== Allegations of witness tampering ===

In November 2004, Setalvad was accused of pressuring [[Zaheera Sheikh]], the key witness in the [[Best Bakery case]], to make certain statements, leading to the unprecedented transferral of the case outside Gujarat. In August 2005, the Supreme Court of India committee absolved her of the charges of inducement levelled against her by Zaheera and awarded a one-year jail sentence to Zaheera for perjury.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2005/aug/29best.htm|title=Supreme Court panel calls Zahira a liar|website=www.rediff.com|access-date=2019-11-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=SC awards one year imprisonment to Zaheera for flip flops |url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=368813 |newspaper=OutlookIndial.com |date=8 March 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101025345/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=368813 |archive-date=1 January 2014 |df=dmy }}</ref> In 2013 [[Tehelka]] in an undercover investigation discovered that Zaheera had been paid to alter her testimony. Tehelka recorded BJP member Madhu Srivastava, described by Tehelka as a "close associate of Narendra Modi" and Batthoo Srivastava describing how they had paid Rs 1.8&nbsp;million to Zaheera.<ref name="Tehelka Sting">{{cite news|last=Newspaper|first=Tehelka|title=The Shame of Gujarat "I Paid Zaheera Sheikh Rs 18 Lakh"|url=http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main10.asp?filename=ts010105press.asp|newspaper=Tehelka|date=24 July 2013}}</ref>

Teesta Setalvad's former aide Rais Khan Pathan has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court alleging manipulation of evidence, which were in the form of statements of witnesses, by her in five sensitive post-Godhra riot cases.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Teesta-doctored-evidence-Ex-aide-to-SC/articleshow/10936983.cms|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126034250/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-01/india/30462295_1_riot-cases-setalvad-naroda-gam-case|url-status=live|archive-date=26 January 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]|title=Teesta doctored evidence: Ex-aide to SC|date=December 2011 |access-date=28 August 2018}}</ref>

In April 2009, the ''Times of India'' ran a story claiming that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the [[Supreme Court of India]] to investigate and expedite the Gujarat riot cases had submitted before the Court that Teesta Setalvad had cooked up cases of violence to spice up the incidents. The SIT which is headed by former CBI director, R K Raghavan has said that false witnesses were tutored to give evidence about imaginary incidents by Teesta Setalvad and other NGOs.<ref name=toi>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/NGOs-Teesta-spiced-up-Gujarat-riot-incidents-SIT/articleshow/4396986.cms|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103084122/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-04-14/india/28031729_1_riot-cases-r-k-raghavan-riot-victims|url-status=live|archive-date=3 January 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]|title=NGOs, Teesta spiced up Gujarat riot incidents: SIT|date=14 April 2009 |access-date=28 August 2018}}</ref> The SIT charged her of "cooking up macabre tales of killings".<ref name=economictimes>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Setalvad-in-dock-for-cooking-up-killings/articleshow/4397849.cms|title=Setalvad in dock for 'cooking up killings'|date=14 April 2009|access-date=28 August 2018|newspaper=The Economic Times}}</ref>

The court was told that 22 witnesses, who had submitted identical affidavits before various courts relating to riot incidents, were questioned by SIT and it was found that the witnesses had not actually witnessed the incidents and they were tutored and the affidavits were handed over to them by Setalvad.<ref name=economictimes/> The report which was brought to the notice of the bench consisting of Justices Arijit Pasayat, P Sathasivam and Aftab Alam, noted that the much publicised case of a pregnant Muslim woman Kausar Bano being gangraped by a mob and foetus being removed with sharp weapons, was also fabricated, and false.<ref name=toi/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://dailypioneer.com/169490/Gujarat-riot-myths-busted.html|title=Gujarat riot myths busted|author=Abraham Thomas|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091223091639/http://www.dailypioneer.com/169490/Gujarat-riot-myths-busted.html|archive-date=23 December 2009}}</ref> However, Kausar Bano's husband states alleges the doctors falsified the post-mortem despite his wife's uterus having been removed from her body.<ref name=indexpress-kausar>{{cite news|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/even-demons-have-shame-kausar-s-husband/994966/0|title=Judge rejects theory that Bajrangi killed foetus|author=Manas Dasgupta}}</ref> The court that was trying the issue found beyond reasonable doubt that Babu Bajarangi killed Kausar Bano and her nine-month-old foetus by stabbing her in the stomach with a sword, but did not find sufficient evidence to prove that he removed the foetus from the uterus.<ref name=thehindu-bajarangi-foetus>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/judge-rejects-theory-that-bajrangi-killed-foetus/article3859939.ece|title=Even demons have shame: Kausar's husband
|author=Ujjwala Nayudu}}</ref>

A day later, the Times of India published a letter from Citizens for Justice and Peace claiming that the report in question was not SIT report but a report by the Gujarat Government.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Guj-govts-not-an-SIT-report/articleshow/4407434.cms | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717014549/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-04-16/india/28020204_1_r-k-raghavan-gujarat-government-apex-court | url-status=live | archive-date=17 July 2012 |location=India | work=[[The Times of India]] | title=Guj govt's, not an SIT report | date=16 April 2009}}</ref> The author of the Times article responded saying "My report was based on the SIT report and not any document circulated by the Gujarat government, as suggested by CJP. Whether any section of the media has the report or not is irrelevant as TOI has access to the report.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Report-based-on-SIT-findings/articleshow/4407437.cms | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811064648/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-04-16/india/28007583_1_statements-report-witnesses | url-status=live | archive-date=11 August 2011 |location=India | work=[[The Times of India]] | title=Report based on SIT findings | date=16 April 2009}}</ref>

R.K. Raghavan, the chairman of the SIT criticised the report leakage, saying, "The alleged reported leaks appear to be inspired by dubious motives. I cannot confirm such claims. The act is highly condemnable". However, he refused to deny or confirm whether the leaked contents were true.<ref name=HTraghavan>Nagender Sharma, [http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=954c5708-79ee-47d0-8272-795b79946cd5&Headline=Gujarat+riots+witnesses+not+tutored:+SIT Gujarat riots witnesses not tutored: SIT, Apr 22, 2009, Hindustan Times] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426232747/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=954c5708-79ee-47d0-8272-795b79946cd5&Headline=Gujarat+riots+witnesses+not+tutored%3A+SIT |date=26 April 2009 }}</ref> The Supreme Court itself condemned the leaking of the SIT report as a 'betrayal of trust' but did not deny the report itself.<ref name=SCSIT>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/9B1F1B6F1CB98ABF6525759F006FCC4D?OpenDocument|title=SC deplores leakage of SIT report on Gujarat riots:PTI|access-date=3 April 2019}}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Raghvan noted that "many incidents were cooked up, false witnesses were tutored to give evidence about imaginary incidents, and false charges levelled against the then Ahmedabad police chief P C Pandey".<ref name="news.oneindia.in">[http://news.oneindia.in/2009/04/14/gujarat-riots-special-investigation-team-activist.html Guj Riots: Activist accused of 'cooking up tales' – Oneindia News]. News.oneindia.in (14 April 2009). Retrieved on 18 July 2013.</ref>

===Allegations of misappropriation of funds===
In 2013, twelve residents of the Gulbarg Society who were the victim of Gujarat riots, accused Setalvad of collecting donations in the name of riot victims but failing to use them for their benefit and sent a legal notice to her. They claimed that she had collected huge donations from national and international organisations in the name of providing financial assistance for reconstruction of houses or developing the society into a museum but it was not passed to the members of the society. They also sought to ban her organisation "Citizens for Justice and Peace" and prevent them entering the society to organise programmes.<ref name=zee1>{{cite news|title='Teesta Setalvad minting money in riot victims' name'|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/gujarat/teesta-setalvad-minting-money-in-riot-victims-name_832249.html|access-date=15 May 2013|newspaper=Zee News|date=1 March 2013|agency=PTI}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Distribute funds collected for museum development: Gulberg residents to Teesta|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/distribute-funds-collected-for-museum-development-gulberg-residents-to-teesta/1080913/|access-date=15 May 2013|newspaper=Indian Express|date=28 February 2013}}</ref> The Ahmedabad Crime Branch is conducting an inquiry into the matter.<ref>{{cite news|title=2002 Gujarat riots: Ahmedabad Crime Branch to probe Teesta Setalvad's collection of funds|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/2002-gujarat-riots-ahmedabad-crime-branch-to-probe-teesta-setalvads-collection-of-funds/378450-3-238.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316051600/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/2002-gujarat-riots-ahmedabad-crime-branch-to-probe-teesta-setalvads-collection-of-funds/378450-3-238.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 March 2013|access-date=15 May 2013|newspaper=IBN Live|date=13 March 2013}}</ref>

On 13 March 2013, the official representatives including the secretary and chairman of the Gulbarg Cooperative Housing Society in a letter<ref name=soc>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cjponline.org/prelease/attachmnts/130313%20Gulberg%20Society%20(official)%20letter%20to%20Jt%20CP.pdf |title=Letter to Jt commissioner of police by official members of Gulbarg Society |access-date=3 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023000357/http://www.cjponline.org/prelease/attachmnts/130313%20Gulberg%20Society%20(official)%20letter%20to%20Jt%20CP.pdf |archive-date=23 October 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> to the joint commissioner of Police, Crime Branch, Ahmedabad, informed him that the letter-head of the society had been misused by some residents and the claims being made by them were patently false since nothing had been parted from them.<ref name=soc/> A similar letter was also released to the media.<ref name=lett>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cjponline.org/prelease/attachmnts/130304%20False%20and%20Forged%20letter%20Gulberg(to%20media%20official%20society%20letter).pdf |title=Official members of Gulbarg Society decry "False and Forged letter by some residents of Gulbarg" |access-date=31 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022213513/http://www.cjponline.org/prelease/attachmnts/130304%20False%20and%20Forged%20letter%20Gulberg(to%20media%20official%20society%20letter).pdf |archive-date=22 October 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In a press release CJP and Sabrang clarified<ref name=pr>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cjponline.org/prelease/13March13.htm |title=CJP Press release |access-date=3 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824032749/http://www.cjponline.org/prelease/13March13.htm |archive-date=24 August 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> that CJP never sought nor received any money for the museum. Sabrang Trust had raised an amount of Rs 460,285 nationally and internationally from donors for the purpose of the museum and since the plan has been abandoned because of the spiralling real estate prices, the matter is between the trust and the donors which they will address when final decision is taken.  All other funds, nationally and internationally raised, have been funds legitimately collected for activities that they publicly engage in. Their accounts are audited and submitted to the relevant authorities.<ref name=pr/> Subsequent to the letter written by the Gulbarg Society members to the police, the police sent them a letter asking for the status quo to be maintained while investigations were in progress.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/police-probe-complaint-against-teesta-write-to-gulbarg-society-members/1090687/|title=Police probe complaint against Teesta, write to Gulbarg Society members - Indian Express|website=www.indianexpress.com|date=20 March 2013|access-date=28 August 2018}}</ref> Later, the Crime Branch claimed that the complaint did not have any substance and instead filed an FIR against Setalvad.<ref name=soc1>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Probe-ordered-into-alleged-forgery-by-Gulbarg-residents/articleshow/30490936.cms|title=Probe ordered into alleged forgery by Gulbarg residents - Times of India|website=[[The Times of India]]|date=16 February 2014 |access-date=28 August 2018}}</ref>

After a [[First Information Report]] was filed by the Ahmedabad police on 4 January 2014 Teesta Setalvad and Javed Anand were granted interim bail. According to the judge, similar relief has been provided in the past when false allegations were raised. The bail application stated that "The FIR is a mala fide action of the Crime Branch, Ahmedabad, to intimidate a human rights defender. This is the fifth time that a false criminal case has been lodged since 2004 because of me and my organization's consistent legal support to the victims of 2002 riots&nbsp;... Gulbarga cooperative housing society had been totally burnt down by politically motivated anti-social elements and 68 people had lost their lives in the massacre." It also said the accusation was brought by "powerful forces in Gujarat who wish(ed) to stymie the appeal in the Zakia Jafri case".<ref>{{cite news|last=Deshpanda|first=Swati|title=Teesta Setalvad gets interim bail in misappropriation of funds case|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Teesta-Setalvad-gets-interim-bail-in-misappropriation-of-funds-case/articleshow/28664483.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112214145/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2014-01-11/india/46089318_1_interim-bail-funds-case-teesta-setalvad|url-status=live|archive-date=12 January 2014|access-date=17 February 2014|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=11 January 2014}}</ref>

On finding that the Crime Branch, Ahmedabad instead of acting on his complaint had filed an FIR against Setalvad and others, the Secretary of the Gulbarg Housing Society, Firoz Gulzar Pathan moved the court complaining against Gujarat police's biased approach. The court sought a report from the Crime Branch. The Police responded by claiming that the complaint did not have any substance. This was countered by the complainant's advocate who maintained that the Crime Branch had not even bothered to question the complainant before shelving the complaint. This led the magisterial court on 15 February 2014 to direct the city crime branch to lodge an FIR and start investigation against former residents of Gulbarg Society who had made the complaint against Setalvad last year.<ref name=soc1 /> On 28 November 2014, local court rejected pleas filed by activist Teesta Setalvad, her husband Javed Anand and their two NGOs seeking to de-freeze their bank accounts attached earlier by police in connection with the embezzlement case.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-court-rejects-teesta-setalvad-s-plea-to-de-freeze-bank-accounts-2039290|title=Court rejects Teesta Setalvad's plea to de-freeze bank accounts|date=28 November 2014|access-date=28 August 2018}}</ref> On 12 February 2015, [[Gujarat High Court]] rejected Setalvad's [[anticipatory bail]] plea regarding the case.<ref name="etx">{{cite web | title=Gujarat High Court rejects Teesta Setalvad's anticipatory bail plea in riot fund embezzlement case | website=The Economic Times | date=12 February 2014 | url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/gujarat-high-court-rejects-teesta-setalvads-anticipatory-bail-plea-in-riot-fund-embezzlement-case/articleshow/46211417.cms | access-date=2015-02-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://onelawstreet.com/2015/02/gujarat-high-court-judgment-rejecting-anticipatory-bail-to-teesta-setalvad/|title = Gujarat HC Judgment rejecting anticipatory bail to Teesta Setalvad|access-date = 5 July 2015|website = 1, Law Street| date=19 February 2015 }}</ref> However she was given an interim protection by the Supreme Court of India and on 19 March 2015, a two-judge bench of the Court referred the issue involved in her case to a large three-judge bench.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://onelawstreet.com/2015/03/teesta-atul-setalvad-and-anr-v-state-of-gujarat-judgment-19-march-2015/|title = Teesta Atul Setalvad and Anr. v.State of Gujarat [Judgment – 19 March 2015]|date = 19 March 2015|access-date = 9 July 2015|website = 1, Law Street}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Teesta Setalvad - Gujarat riots fund embezzlement - Bail case - 1, Law Street| work=1, Law Street | date=19 February 2015 |url = http://onelawstreet.com/2015/02/teesta-setalvad-gujarat-riots-fund-embezzlement-bail-case/|access-date = 2015-07-09}}</ref>

==Activism==

[[File:Teesta Setalvad in Kerala two.JPG|thumb|Teesta Setalvad addressing a gathering at VJT Hall Trivandrum, Kerala]]
[[File:Teesta Setalvad in Kerala one.JPG|thumb|Teesta Setalvad addressing a gathering at VJT Hall Trivandrum, Kerala]]
[[File:Teesta Setalvad in Kerala three.JPG|thumb|Teesta Setalvad attending a meeting in Kerala]]

* Teesta, with her husband [[Javed Anand]] is the co-founder and co-editor of the magazine ''Communalism Combat'' which fosters communal harmony by attacking entities propounding communal violence.
* Teesta testified at the [[United States Commission on International Religious Freedom]] on 10 June 2002 against the BJP-led Gujarat government's role in the [[2002 Gujarat violence|post-Godhra communal violence]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uscirf.gov/events/hearings/2002/june/06102002_setalvaTestimony.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713194116/http://www.uscirf.gov/events/hearings/2002/june/06102002_setalvaTestimony.html|url-status=dead|title=Teesta's US testimony|archive-date=13 July 2007|access-date=3 April 2019}}</ref>
* In 1997, Teesta started work on a project, ''Khoj (Quest)'', which aims to rewrite sections of Indian school History and Social Studies textbooks to remove "anti-minority prejudices".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ashoka.org:80/node/2651|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021030550/http://ashoka.org/node/2651|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 October 2007|title=Teesta Setalvad - Ashoka.org|date=21 October 2007|access-date=28 August 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* Teesta is a staunch [[Feminism in India|feminist]] and campaigns for rights and privileges of [[Dalits]], [[Indian Muslims|Muslims]] and women.<ref name="Harvard"/>
* Teesta's husband Javed Anand runs ''[[Sabrang Communications]]'' which fights for human rights. Teesta is the official spokesperson of this organisation.
* Teesta heads the Mumbai-based NGO ''Citizens for Justice and Peace'' (CJP).
* She is one of the founders of the ''Women in the Media Committee''.<ref name="nuernberg.de">{{cite web|url=http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/menschenrechte_e/setalvad_e.html|title=Teesta Setalvad - Human Rights Office of the City of Nuremberg|first=Stadt Nürnberg/|last=Online-Büro|website=www.nuernberg.de|access-date=28 August 2018}}</ref> The group seeks to ''bring together working women journalists to raise job-related concerns and awareness of gender-sensitivity in writing and reporting on issues concerning women''.
* She is one of the founding members of ''Journalists Against Communalism''.<ref name="nuernberg.de"/>
* Apart from the journalistic tasks Teesta Setalvad leads the project "Khoj: Education for A pluralistic India".<ref name="menschenrechte">{{cite web|url=https://www.nuernberg.de/internet/menschenrechte/setalvad.html| title=Die Verantwortung der Medien – Journalisten zwischen Krieg und Frieden|language=de}}</ref>
* Teesta is General Secretary of [[People's Union for Human Rights]] (PUHR).<ref name="menschenrechte"/>
* Member of the [[Pakistan India: People's Forum for Peace and Democracy]].<ref name="menschenrechte"/>

==Zakia Jafri-CJP petition==
[[Zakia Jafri]]-CJP Special leave petition<ref>[http://www.cjponline.org/zakia/Zakia%20CJP%20SLP%201088%20of%202008%20final.pdf Zakia Jafri-CJP Special Leave Petition ''Retrieved on 29 July 2013''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053848/http://www.cjponline.org/zakia/Zakia%20CJP%20SLP%201088%20of%202008%20final.pdf |date=21 September 2013 }}</ref> seeks a criminal trial of Narendra Modi, the then Chief Minister of Gujarat and the current Prime minister of India and 62 other politicians and government officials for alleged complicity in the Gujarat violence of 2002.<ref name="telegraphindia.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1150213/jsp/frontpage/story_3143.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213065212/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150213/jsp/frontpage/story_3143.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 February 2015|title=Rapid action on Teesta|access-date=28 August 2018}}</ref> The criminal conspiracy complaint alleges that in a meeting of senior police officers and officials convened by the then Chief minister Mr Modi on 27 February 2002 following [[Godhra train burning|the Godhra tragedy]], he issued his "let Hindus give vent to their anger" directive. In all, there are 30 interrelated and closely interlocked allegations including<ref>[http://archive.asianage.com/columnists/fiction-and-fact-041 Fiction and Fact ''The Asian Age'' 19 May 2012, ''Retrieved on 11 August 2013'']</ref>
* parading dead bodies of Godhra victims to inflame passions
* police control rooms being manned by Cabinet ministers
* police investigations being botched
* [[Vishva Hindu Parishad|VHP]] men being appointed as public prosecutors
* promotion of police officers like Mr M.K. Tandon and Mr P.B. Gondia, who faced serious charges of dereliction of duty as a result of which over 200 Muslims were killed in [[Gulbarg Society massacre|Gulbarg society]], [[Naroda Patiya massacre|Naroda Patiya]] and Naroda Gaam in Ahmedabad
* penalising upright police officers
* ignoring intelligence warnings
* destruction of carnage-related records

In response to the petition, the Supreme Court on 27 April 2009 ordered the Special Investigation Team (SIT) they appointed to undertake the investigation.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/court-to-sit-probe-plea-against-modi/article317287.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | title=Court to SIT: probe plea against Modi | date=28 April 2009}}</ref> The SIT under the Chairmanship of [[R. K. Raghavan]] was originally formed to investigate nine major cases of riots in Gujarat in 2002.

The SIT submitted a preliminary report in May 2010.<ref>[http://www.cjponline.org/zakia/SIT%20Enquiry_Report_In%20ZAKIA%20CASE.pdf AK Malhotra Preliminary report ''Retrieved on 29 July 2013''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825021841/http://cjponline.org/zakia/SIT%20Enquiry_Report_In%20ZAKIA%20CASE.pdf |date=25 August 2013 }}</ref> Chairman R. K. Raghavan submitted his comments to the report for perusal of the Supreme Court on 14 May 2010<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cjponline.org/zakia/Chairman%20Raghavans%20Comments%2014.5.2010.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825044824/http://cjponline.org/zakia/Chairman%20Raghavans%20Comments%2014.5.2010.pdf|url-status=dead|title=Chairman Raghavan's Comments|archive-date=25 August 2013|access-date=3 April 2019}}</ref> Further investigation report was filed in November 2010. The Supreme Court in November 2010 appointed Raju Ramachandran as ''[[amicus curiae]]'' to assist the court in this case. The ''amicus curiae'' submitted a note dated 20 January 2011 to the Supreme Court.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cjponline.org/zakia/INTERIM%20REPORT%20-%20RAJU%20RAMACHANDRAN.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825023705/http://cjponline.org/zakia/INTERIM%20REPORT%20-%20RAJU%20RAMACHANDRAN.pdf|url-status=dead|title=Interim Report – Raju Ramachandran|archive-date=25 August 2013|access-date=3 April 2019}}</ref>

On 15 March 2011, the Supreme Court directed SIT to examine the observations of the ''amicus curiae'', to re-examine the entire evidence recorded and if some more evidence is required to be recorded, to do so. It observed that the SIT chairman's inferences did not match with the findings of the SIT probe.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Your-inferences-dont-match-SIT-report-court-tells-Raghavan/article14948583.ece|title=Your inferences don't match SIT report, court tells Raghavan|first=J.|last=Venkatesan|newspaper=The Hindu|date=15 March 2011|access-date=3 April 2019|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> Thereafter the SIT examined more witnesses and recorded their statements and submitted a further investigation report on 24 April 2011. On 5 May 2011, during a hearing in the Supreme Court, Shanti Bhushan, the counsel for Zakia Jafri, alleged that SIT was a doing cover-up job and sought copies of the investigation reports. The ''amicus curiae'' Raju Ramachandran informed the court that he had received a copy of an affidavit filed by [[Sanjiv Bhatt]] that he was present at a 27 February 2002 meeting convened by the chief minister where instructions were given to teach Muslims a lesson.<ref name=SB>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/go-beyond-sit-report-on-jaffrey-case-court-tells-amicus-curiae/article1995327.ece Go Beyond SIT Report on Jafri Case Court tells Amicus Curiae ''The Hindu'' 6 May 2011 ''retrieved on 12 August 2013'']</ref> The Supreme Court ordered "The copies of the report, along with the comments of the chairman, be given to the amicus curiae, who shall analyse them in the light of evidence, statements of witnesses, and have his independent assessment of the entire evidence which has come on record". The court further said,"If the amicus curiae, on the basis of evidence on record, finds that any offence is made out against any person, he shall mention the same in the report".<ref name=SB/> The ''amicus curiae'' Raju Ramachandran submitted his final report<ref>[http://www.cjponline.org/zakia/FINAL%20REPORT%20-%20RAJU%20RAMACHANDRAN.pdf Final Report – Raju Ramachandran ''Retrieved on 12 August 2013''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825024513/http://cjponline.org/zakia/FINAL%20REPORT%20-%20RAJU%20RAMACHANDRAN.pdf |date=25 August 2013 }}</ref> where he found sufficient evidence to make Mr Modi stand trial.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/proceed-against-modi-for-gujarat-riots-amicus/article3393808.ece Proceed against Modi for Gujarat riots: amicus ''The Hindu'' 7 May 2012 ''Retrieved on 12 August 2013'']</ref>

Thereafter, the Court directed the SIT to submit the final report along with the entire material collected by them to the trial court. The SIT was also given access to the reports of the ''amicus curiae'' submitted earlier to the court.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/trial-court-must-hear-riot-charge-against-modi-supreme-court/article2448490.ece Trial Court Must Hear Charge Against Modi: Supreme Court ''The Hindu'' 13 September 2011 ''Retrieved on 12 August 2013'']</ref> The SIT did not agree with his conclusion<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sit-rejects-amicus-curiaes-observations-against-modi/article3401728.ece|title=SIT rejects amicus curiae's observations against Modi|first=Manas|last=Dasgupta|newspaper=The Hindu|date=10 May 2012|access-date=3 April 2019|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> and filed the closure report on 8 February 2012.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/sit-submits-final-report-on-gujarat-riots/article2872980.ece|title=SIT submits final report on Gujarat riots|newspaper=The Hindu|date=9 February 2012|access-date=3 April 2019|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> The trial court on 10 April 2012 observed that SIT had not found any evidence for the prosecution of Modi or any of the top bureaucrats or police officials and had recommended that the investigation be closed.

The court gave the complainant, Zakia Jafri, the option of filing a protest petition<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sit-finds-no-proof-against-modi-says-court/article3300175.ece|title=SIT finds no proof against Modi, says court|first=Manas|last=Dasgupta|newspaper=The Hindu|date=10 April 2012|access-date=3 April 2019|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> However SIT raised various objections to giving all the investigation papers to the petitioner and finally on 7 February 2013, the Supreme Court asked the SIT to hand over copies of all the reports and investigation papers to the petitioners.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/sc-allows-zakia-jafri-to-access-all-documents/article4391546.ece SC Allows Zakia to Access All Documents ''The Hindu'' 8 February 2013 ''Retrieved on 12 August 2013'']</ref> The protest petition<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cjponline.org/zakia/protpetition/Protest%20Petition%20PART%20I.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825022938/http://cjponline.org/zakia/protpetition/Protest%20Petition%20PART%20I.pdf|url-status=dead|title=Protest Petition Part I|archive-date=25 August 2013|access-date=3 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cjponline.org/zakia/protpetition/Protest%20Petition%20PART%20II.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825042359/http://cjponline.org/zakia/protpetition/Protest%20Petition%20PART%20II.pdf|url-status=dead|title=Protest Petition Part II|archive-date=25 August 2013|access-date=3 April 2019}}</ref> was filed on 15 April 2013.<ref>[http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=795418 2002: Zakia Jafri Challenges SIT Clean Chit to Modi ''Outlook'' 15 April 2013 ''Retrieved on 12 August 2013''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523123221/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=795418 |date=23 May 2013 }}</ref>

In April 2013, the SIT while opposing the protest petition filed by Zakia Jafri and CJP against SIT's closure report submitted before a local court that "Teesta Setalvad and others have falsified the complaint targeting the chief minister who had never said that go and kill people." Their lawyer further submitted that the so-called incident of Chief Minister (Narendra Modi) giving instructions (in the meeting) to high-level police officers not to take action against the rioters is a sole creation of Teesta Setalvad. There is no evidence to the same and that Setalvad was not present during the incident.<ref name=dna-falseclaims>{{cite news|title=Teesta Setalvad & others made false claims against Narendra Modi|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/ahmedabad/1827251/report-teesta-setalvad-and-others-made-false-claims-against-narendra-modi|access-date=16 May 2013|newspaper=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|date=26 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Modi did not incite riots: SIT |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Ahmedabad/Modi-did-not-incite-riots-SIT/Article1-1050396.aspx |access-date=16 May 2013 |newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=25 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520072152/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Ahmedabad/Modi-did-not-incite-riots-SIT/Article1-1050396.aspx |archive-date=20 May 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Gujarat riots: Narendra Modi never said go and kill people, SIT says|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Gujarat-riots-Narendra-Modi-never-said-go-and-kill-people-SIT-says/articleshow/19729646.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130428083518/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-25/india/38816050_1_zakia-jafri-modi-and-others-supreme-court-appointed-sit|url-status=live|archive-date=28 April 2013|access-date=16 May 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=25 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=2002 Gujarat riots: No evidence that Narendra Modi incited rioters or pressured police, says SIT|url=http://m.indiatoday.in/story/2002-gujarat-riots-no-evidence-narendra-modi-incited-rioters-or-pressured-police-sit/1/267769.html|access-date=16 May 2013|newspaper=India Today|date=26 April 2013}}</ref>

In their argument that sufficient grounds existed for ordering criminal prosecution of Modi, Zakia Jafri's counsel told the court that SIT which gave Modi a clean chit, itself behaved like a conspirator and glossed over a wealth of official evidence which suggested State complicity in the incidents.
<ref name=one>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/sit-turned-blind-eye-to-damaging-evidence-zakia/article4965028.ece|title=SIT turned blind eye to damaging evidence: Zakia|first=Darshan|last=Desai|newspaper=The Hindu|date=29 July 2013|access-date=3 April 2019|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>

In June 2022, the Supreme Court on rejected plea by Zakia Jafri, and accused Setalvad of exploiting emotions of Jafri.<ref>{{cite web | title=Teesta Setalvad exploited emotions of Zakia Jafri in Gujarat riots case, says SC | website=India Today | date=2022-06-24 | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/activist-teesta-setalvad-exploited-emotions-zakia-jafri-petition-pm-mod-gujarat-riots-case-1966429-2022-06-24 | access-date=2022-06-26}}</ref>

==Arrest and reactions==
In June 2022, she was arrested by the Anti Terrorism Squad of Gujarat Police for allegedly conspiring to implicate the Gujarat government functionaries in the 2002 Gujarat Riots.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/26/world/asia/india-activist-arrested-modi-gujarat-riots.html|title=Prominent Activist in India Arrested Over Crusade Against Modi in Deadly Riots|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=Sameer|last=Yasir|date=26 June 2022|accessdate=June 27, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Desk |first1=Explained |title=Supreme Court grants Teesta Setalvad interim bail; what was the case against her? |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/sc-teesta-setalvad-interim-bail-2002-gujarat-riots-8127178/ |access-date=20 July 2023 |work=[[Indian Express|The Indian Express]] |date=3 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719210405/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/sc-teesta-setalvad-interim-bail-2002-gujarat-riots-8127178/ |archive-date=19 July 2023 |location=New Delhi |language=en}}</ref> [[Amnesty International India]] has said that Setalvad's arrest is a 'direct reprisal' against human rights activists.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/6/26/indian-police-arrest-gujarat-riots-victims-advocate|title=Teesta Setalvad who fought for 2002 Gujarat riot victims arrested|publisher=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]|first=Zafar|last=Aafaq|date=26 June 2022|accessdate=June 27, 2022}}</ref> Protests by citizens were held in [[Kolkata]] and [[Bangalore]] against her arrest.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scroll.in/video/1027029/watch-protests-in-kolkata-and-bengaluru-against-arrests-of-teesta-setalvad-and-rb-sreekumar|title=Watch: Protests in Kolkata and Bengaluru against arrests of Teesta Setalvad and RB Sreekumar|website=scroll.in|date=27 June 2022|accessdate=June 27, 2022}}</ref> On 1 September 2022, the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] said that some details of the case were sketchy. These were: no chargesheet was filed while she was in custody since last 2 months, the registration of FIR was filed the day just after the Supreme Court dismissed Zakia Jafri's case, the Gujarat High court granted a long adjournment, and there are no offences which stop the Gujarat High Court for granting the bail.<ref>{{cite news |title=Teesta Setalvad's Plea: FIR Doesn't Say Anything More Than SC Judgement, Why HC Listed Bail After 6 Weeks? Supreme Court to Gujarat Police |url=https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/teesta-setalvads-plea-fir-doesnt-say-anything-more-than-sc-judgment-why-hc-listed-bail-after-6-weeks-supreme-court-to-gujarat-police-208108 |access-date=2022-09-01 |work=Livelaw |date=2022-09-01}}</ref> The next day, Supreme Court granted her interim bail on the ground that she was a woman, leaving the decision of regular bail to the [[Gujarat High Court]] after which she was released from jail.<ref>{{cite news |title=Supreme Court Grants Interim Bail to Activist Teesta Setalvad |url=https://thewire.in/law/supreme-court-interim-bail-teesta-setalvad |access-date=2022-09-02 |work=The Wire |date=2022-09-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rajagopal |first1=Krishnadas |title=Supreme Court grants interim bail to Teesta Setalvad |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-grants-interim-bail-to-teesta-setalvad/article65840408.ece?homepage=true |access-date=2022-09-02 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=2022-09-02}}</ref> The Gujarat High Court later denied her regular bail and directed her to surrender immediately, which was criticized by the Supreme Court as "totally perverse" and "contradictory" while granting her regular bail on 19 July 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=Granting bail to Teesta Setalvad, Supreme Court calls Gujarat HC order 'perverse' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/2002-gujarat-riots-case-sc-grants-bail-to-activist-teesta-setalvad-8848362/ |access-date=20 July 2023 |work=[[Indian Express|The Indian Express]] |date=20 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719211605/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/2002-gujarat-riots-case-sc-grants-bail-to-activist-teesta-setalvad-8848362/ |archive-date=19 July 2023 |location=New Delhi |language=en}}</ref>


===Allegation that Teesta is being framed and hounded===
Though cases against Teesta are still in courts it has been suggested by some journalists that Teesta is being framed and hounded by Gujarat Police because of her criticism of [[Narendra Modi]]. It is alleged that allegations of corruption against Teesta are concocted.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toi-edit-page/hounding-of-teesta-setalvad-attempts-to-arrest-her-and-subject-her-to-custodial-interrogation-are-uncalled-for/|title=Hounding Of Teesta Setalvad: Attempts to arrest her and subject her to "custodial interrogation" are uncalled for|date= 18 February 2015|work=Times of India|access-date=6 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/teesta-setalvad-is-being-framed-by-the-gujarat-govt-but-why-is-there-no-outrage-2097117.html|title=Teesta Setalvad is being framed by the Gujarat govt but why is there no outrage?|date= 19 February 2015|work=Firstpost|access-date=6 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://scroll.in/article/658902/the-real-story-behind-the-corruption-charges-against-activist-teesta-setalvad|title=The real story behind the corruption charges against activist Teesta Setalvad|date= 21 March 2014|work=Scroll|access-date=6 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Teesta-Setalvad-hounded-for-speaking-up-feel-scribes/articleshow/46269463.cms|title=Teesta Setalvad 'hounded for speaking up', feel scribes|date= 17 February 2015|work=Times of India|access-date=6 July 2015}}</ref> In a signed article in Outlook magazine, published in March 2015, [[Indira Jaising]] wrote that Teesta's organization ''Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP)'' did creditable work in obtaining convictions for 119 people (including a Minister) for participating in the Gujarat riots. Jaising goes on to say that:{{Blockquote|The case against Teesta smacks of a plan to deter her from assisting victims of the Gujarat 2002 riots. The financial dealings of Teesta and CJP can be probed, but the disproportionality of the legal process, the timing, and the insistence of the prosecution on custodial interrogation, smack of vendetta.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article/why-i-stand-by-her/293486|title=Why I Stand By Her:Support for Teesta is support for access to justice for victims of a pogrom|date= 2 March 2015|work=Outlook|access-date=12 July 2015}}</ref>}}

==Recognitions==
* PUCL Journalism for Human Rights Award 1993.<ref name="exilclub.de"/>
* [[Chameli Devi Jain Award for Outstanding Women Mediaperson]] 1993.<ref name="exilclub.de"/>
* Maharana Mewar Foundation's Hakim Khan Sur Award (jointly with Javed Anand) in 1999.<ref name="exilclub.de"/>
* Human Rights Award of the Dalit Liberation Education Trust in 2000.<ref name="exilclub.de"/>
* The 2002 [[Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award]] (jointly with [[Harsh Mander]]) given by the [[Indian National Congress|Congress party]] annually to people promoting national goodwill.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sabrang.com/news/teesaward.htm|title=Sabrang Alternative News Network|website=www.sabrang.com|access-date=28 August 2018}}</ref>
* The 2003 [[Nuremberg International Human Rights Award]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sabrang.com/news/teestaspeech.htm|title=Sabrang Alternative News Network|website=www.sabrang.com|access-date=28 August 2018}}</ref>
* 2004 Defender of Democracy award (jointly with [[Helen Clark]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ksghauser.harvard.edu/socialmovementsworkshops/biographicalinformation_teestasetalvad.htm|title=Harvard Kennedy School|website=www.ksghauser.harvard.edu|access-date=28 August 2018}}</ref> given by [[Parliamentarians for Global Action]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pgaction.org/about_defe.asp|title=Defender of Democracy Awards|access-date=28 August 2018|archive-date=19 April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070419083726/http://pgaction.org/about_defe.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 2004 M.A. Thomas National Human Rights Award from the [[Vigil India Movement]].
* The 2006 Nani A Palkhivala Award, given by a trust run by the [[Tata Group]].
* [[Matoshree Bhimabai Ambedkar Award]] (2007)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.dailyhunt.in/news/india/marathi/lokmanthan-epaper-lokmanth/pra+aashalata+kambale+yanna+bhimabai+aambedakar+puraskar-newsid-76027640?listname=topicsList&index=0&topicIndex=0&mode=pwa|title=Dailyhunt|website=m.dailyhunt.in|language=en|access-date=2018-11-13}}</ref>
* [[Padma Shri]] in 2007, awarded for ''Public Affairs in Maharashtra'' by the Government of India<ref>[http://india.gov.in/myindia/advsearch_awards.php] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131221505/http://india.gov.in/myindia/advsearch_awards.php|date=31 January 2009}}</ref>
* 2009 FIMA Excellence Award – given by Federation of Indian Muslim Associations in Kuwait<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/147326/t/Federation-of-Indian-Muslim-Associations-honors-six/Default.aspx |title=Federation of Indian Muslim Associations honors six |date=24 August 2012 |publisher=Times of India |access-date=24 August 2012}}</ref>
* Pax Christi International Peace Award (jointly with Australian artist [[Eddie Kneebone]]), given by the [[Evangelical]] group "Pax Christi."<ref name="exilclub.de"/>
* Honorary Doctorate from University of British Columbia (2020)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Minority rights activist Teesta Setalvad gets reputed Honorary Doctorate from University of British Columbia|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/minority-rights-activist-teesta-setalvad-gets-reputed-honorary-doctorate-from-university-of-british-columbia|access-date=2020-06-22|website=National Herald|date=22 June 2020|language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{Wikiquote-inline}}
*{{commons category-inline}}
*[http://cjp.org.in Citizens for Justice and Peace]
*[http://www.catalystmagazine.org/Default.aspx.LocID-0hgnew0a2.RefLocID-0hg01b001006001.Lang-EN.htm INDIA: The constitutional mandate and education] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415151330/http://www.catalystmagazine.org/Default.aspx.LocID-0hgnew0a2.RefLocID-0hg01b001006001.Lang-EN.htm |date=15 April 2014 }} – article by Teesta Setalvad in [http://www.catalystmagazine.org Catalyst Magazine] (January 2006)

{{authority control}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Public Affairs}}
{{Nuremberg International Human Rights Award}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Setalvad, Teesta}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian civil rights activists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in public affairs]]
[[Category:Indian women activists]]
[[Category:Gujarati people]]
[[Category:2002 Gujarat riots]]
[[Category:Indian activist journalists]]
[[Category:Indian women journalists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian journalists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women writers]]
[[Category:Women writers from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Activists from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Journalists from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian journalists]]
[[Category:Women civil rights activists]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of India]]
[[Category:Chameli Devi Jain Award for Outstanding Women Mediapersons winners]]