Supreme Court: The 3-judge bench of BR Gavai, AS Bopanna and Dipankar Datta, JJ has stayed the Gujarat High Court order rejecting Activist Teesta Setalvad’s plea for regular bail in the case relating to alleged fabrication of evidence in relation to the 2002 Gujarat riots. The Gujarat High Court had directed her to surrender immediately. The 3-judge bench assembled on Saturday night to decide the issue and after observing that in ordinary circumstances, it would not have considered such a request, it took note of the fact that Setalvad was a lady and as such entitled to special protection under Section 437 Cr.P.C. The Court, hence, observed that the Gujarat High Court ought to have granted at least some protection so that Setalvad has sufficient time to challenge the order before the Supreme Court. Hence, without considering anything on merits of the matter, finding that the Gujarat High Court was not correct in granting even some protection, the Court granted stay of the impugned order passed by the High Court for a period of one week….
