Mihir Desai

The Indian Express and others reported:

The Bombay HC granted anticipatory bail to activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand booked by the CBI under the FCRA for allegedly collecting foreign funds.

Justice Mridula Bhatkar observed there was no need of custodial interrogation. “Prima facie, I am of the view, their (prosecution) case is based on accounts and documents… If the accounts are not maintained, the prosecution is free to frame charges and proceed,” said Justice Bhatkar.

Senior counsel Aspi Chinoy and Mihir Desai appeared for Setalvad and Anand, while state advocate general Anil Singh argued for the CBI.

The Bombay high court has designated the seven advocates as senior lawyers.

[Read the litigation files & IB reports]: After the Essar Group last week tried to bring an Intelligence Bureau (IB) report into its litigation against Greenpeace, the NGO is claiming that it’s a strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPP).