Exhuming of bodies: Gujarat maintains Teesta main accused

The Gujarat government has justified before the Supreme Court its ongoing probe against social activist Teesta Setalvad in a case of alleged illegal exhuming of bodies of 2002 Gujarat riot victims, saying that she actually planned and executed digging of graves without permission in 2006.

The Gujarat government has justified before the Supreme Court its ongoing probe against social activist Teesta Setalvad in a case of alleged illegal exhuming of bodies of 2002 Gujarat riot victims, saying that she actually planned and executed digging of graves without permission in 2006.

In an affidavit, the state government claimed during the investigations involving the accused, including her one time close aide Rai Khan Pathan, and also an independent witness, it has emerged that "Teesta Setalvad, the petitioner herein, was the main accused who has actually planned and executed this operation of digging of graves near Pandarwada through her staff."

The state government, responding to the notice issued by the apex court, which on July 29 stayed criminal proceedings against Setalvad for her alleged role in the case, said the other accused have claimed innocence and blamed Setalvad for instigating them to carry out the operation which attracts penal provision for entering into conspiracy for various offences.

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It termed as totally "concocted, false and misleading" Setalvad's claim that digging

of graves was carried out after the relatives of deceased heard from the sweeper that there were some bodies buried in the forest land and their close relatives had been arraigned as accused.