Teesta had hatched a conspiracy to topple the Gujarat government: 20 years ago, Sonia’s secretary had taken Rs 30 lakh from Ahmed Patel; SIT claim in court

After the 2002 Gujarat riots, activist Teesta Setalvad had hatched a conspiracy to defame Narendra Modi, who was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Teesta had taken 30 lakh rupees for this from Ahmed Patel, who was the political advisor to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi. The SIT probing the role of Teesta in the Gujarat riots has said this in the affidavit given in the court.

The SIT said in its affidavit that RB Sreekumar, then DGP of Gujarat and former IPS Sanjiv Bhatt were also involved in this conspiracy with Teesta. These people had hatched a conspiracy to destabilize the Narendra Modi-led state government after the Gujarat riots.

Teesta Setalvad was arrested by the Gujarat SIT from her house in Mumbai on June 25.

Teesta and colleagues got funds twice
In an affidavit filed in the Ahmedabad Sessions Court, the SIT said that Teesta had received Rs 5 lakh once and Rs 25 lakh once from Ahmed Patel, an advisor to Congress President Sonia Gandhi. The SIT said this while opposing the bail plea filed on behalf of jailed Teesta in the Gujarat riots case. The Gujarat SIT had arrested Teesta from her house in Mumbai on June 25.

BJP said – Congress conspiracy came to the fore
After the disclosure of the SIT, BJP has targeted the Congress. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said in the press conference that the way the Congress conspired to defame Narendra Modi in the Gujarat riots, its truth is coming out layer by layer. The SIT’s affidavit says that Teesta Setalvad and her accomplices were not working under humanity. They were working with political motive.

Sambit said that they had 2 motives. First – the then government of Gujarat should be destabilized and second – innocent people should be included in it. In which the name of Narendra Modi is also included. He alleged that Ahmed Patel had only delivered the money. After this, Sonia Gandhi did not know how many crores of rupees were given to humiliate and defame Narendra Modi. Sonia used Teesta Setalvad to promote Rahul Gandhi.

Ahmed Patel was the secretary of Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, he was also a Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat. He passed away in 2020.

Patel’s daughter said- election connection of allegations
In this case, Ahmed Patel’s daughter Mumtaz Patel said that this had to happen before the Gujarat elections. It’s been 20 years in this case. Why was no action taken when my father was alive? Such allegations are being made because of elections. My father is being defamed since last 1.5 years. Before every election some issue is raised.

Congress said- BJP does not spare even the dead
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the Congress vehemently denies the allegations of the BJP. It was because of the reluctance shown by Narendra Modi to stop the communal carnage in 2002 that the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari reminded him of Rajdharma. The Prime Minister’s political vendetta machine does not leave dead those who were his opponents. The SIT is dancing at the behest of its master, it will sit where it is told.

Alleged conspiracy by making forged documents
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.

The Supreme Court had said that the role of Teesta should be investigated
The Supreme Court on 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. Along with this, the Supreme Court had asked to investigate the role of Teesta Setalvad in this case.

Communal violence took place in Gujarat in 2002
On 27 February 2002, coach S-6 of the Sabarmati Express train was set on fire at Godhra station in Gujarat. 59 people were killed in the fire. All these were kar sevaks, who were returning from Ayodhya. Riots broke out all over Gujarat after the Godhra incident. 1,044 people were killed in these riots. At that time Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

On February 28, the day after the Godhra incident, 69 people were killed by an uncontrollable mob at Gulbarg Housing Society in Ahmedabad. Among those who died was former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, who lived in the same society. Due to these riots, the situation in the state had deteriorated so much that the army had to be launched on the third day.

Inquiry commission gave clean chit to Narendra Modi
On 6 March 2002, the Gujarat government constituted the Nanavati-Shah Commission to investigate the Godhra incident. Retired High Court judge KG Shah and retired Supreme Court judge GT Nanavati became its members. The commission submitted the first part of its report in September 2008. In this, Godhra incident was described as a well-planned conspiracy. Also, a clean chit was given to Narendra Modi, his ministers and senior officers.

Justice KG Shah passed away in 2009. Due to which retired Judge of Gujarat High Court Justice Akshay Mehta became its member and its name was Nanavati-Mehta Commission. It presented the second part of its report in December 2019. In this also the same thing was reiterated, which was said in the first part of the report.