No interim bail for Teesta Setalvad after Supreme Court constitutes special bench; matter to be heard by larger bench

The Supreme Court on Saturday constituted a special bench to hear an interim bail application filed by activist Teesta Setalvad, who was denied regular bail by the Gujarat High Court in the conspiracy case related to the 2002 Gujarat riots. [Teesta Atul Setalvad v. State of Gujarat].However, since a vacation bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Prashant Kumar Mishra icould not arrive at a unanimous decison, she was denied interim relief for the time being. The matter has now been referred to a larger bench to be constituted as soon as possible.."There is a disagreement between us on the question of grant of bail. So we request the Chief Justice to assign this matter to a larger bench," the Bench ordered. .Setalvad was accused of fabricating evidence during the 2002 Godhra Riots that rocked Gujarat to malign officials including then Chief Minister Narendra Modi..Earlier today, she was denied regular bail by the Gujarat High Court and asked to surrender immediately, leading to the present appeal filed through Advocate Aparna Bhat. She was earlier granted interim bail by the Supreme Court in the matter, which had noted that she had cooperated with the probe and been interrogated. .At today's hearing, which began at around 6:30 PM today, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Gujarat government, said Setalvad had maligned the State, and it was Supreme Court that had indicated that she should be in the dock for her actions..Justice Oka during the course of the hearing appeared to be in favour of relaxing the condition of Setalvad immediately surrendering, noting that 'heavens would not fall'. He pointed out that regular bail had been rejected in a Saturday hearing when she was already put on interim bail. However, on the SG continuing to press his arguments against the same, and Justice Mishra appearing to be inclined not to consider relief at this stage, the Supreme Court proceeded to defer allowing Setalvad's appeal. .Her counsel, Senior Advocate CU Singh, asked that the matter be listed immediately, even tomorrow if possible. The Bench said that the same was the prerogative of the Chief Justice of India, and called for an urgent listing in its order.