India’s UN bluntly: Ministry of External Affairs said- ‘The comment on Teesta Setalvad case is completely unwanted, action was taken under judicial rules’

India on Wednesday rejected the United Nations Human Rights Office’s (OHCHR) remarks on the arrest of activist Teesta Setalvad as “totally unwanted” and said it interfered with the country’s independent judicial system. Foreign Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said in his statement that the Indian authority has taken action against the violation of law in accordance with established judicial rules.

Comments were “totally inappropriate”: Bagchi
Responding to OHCHR’s tweet, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the OHCHR’s comments were “totally inappropriate”. He said, “We have seen a comment by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding legal action against Teesta Setalvad and two other persons. The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said that terming such legal action as harassment is misleading and unacceptable.

OHCHR tweeted on Tuesday
The OHCHR expressed concern over the arrest of Teesta Setalvad and demanded her immediate release. The United Nations Human Rights Office tweeted on Tuesday, ‘India: We are deeply concerned about the detention and arrest of Teesta Setalvad and two former police officers and call for their immediate release. He should not be harassed for his activism and for showing solidarity with the victims of 2002 Gujarat riots.

Responding to media queries regarding this, Bagchi said, “We have seen the comments of OHCHR regarding legal action against Teesta Setalvad and two others. This comment is completely unsolicited and directly interferes with the independent judicial system of India.

Setalvad’s NGO is accused of giving baseless information to the police about the riots.

conspiracy case has been registered
Significantly, in the Gujarat riots case, Ahmedabad Crime Branch has registered a case of conspiracy against Teesta Setalvad, former IPS Sanjeev Bhatt and DGP RB Sreekumar by making forged documents. Sanjeev Bhatt is already in jail, while Teesta and Sreekumar have now been arrested. According to sources, the Gujarat Police has registered an FIR against Teesta on Saturday itself.

Teesta Setalvad (left) was Zakia Jafri’s co-petitioner in the Gujarat riots case.

The Supreme Court had said that the role of Teesta should be investigated
The Supreme Court on Friday, June 24, dismissed the petition against the SIT report giving clean chit to the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 Gujarat riots case. This petition was filed by Zakia Jafri. Zakia Jafri’s husband Ehsan Jafri died in these riots. The Supreme Court said that there is no merit in Zakia’s petition. The court had also said that Setalvad, the co-petitioner in the case, played with the sentiments of Zakia Jafri. The court had asked for an inquiry into the role of Teesta.