Rebecca Samervel,TNN | Jul 18, 2015,
Seeking the couple’s custodial interrogation, the agency said, “Such an act of a foreign donor would prejudicially affect the strategic, scientific and economic interests of the state and the harmony between religions, social, linguistic or regional groups, castes or communities.”
Refuting their claims that as directors of Sabrang Communications and Publishing, they had not received any funding, the CBI alleged that US$2,90,000 was received and utilized by them in violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act.
While granting them interim relief until Tuesday, special judge A A Khan said the presence of Setalvad and Anand will be required when the orders are passed that day.
Setalvad and Anand had filed the pleas though their advocate Vijay Hiremath in the aftermath of the searches carried at four places, including her Juhu residence and office of Sabrang Communications and Publishing. The raid was conducted in connection with a case filed against Setalvad in Gujarat where she is accused of appropriating funds collected for her NGO, which was helping victims of the communal riots.
Advocate Mihir Desai, who argued on the couple’s behalf, said they had been cooperating with the probe and that there was nothing concrete in the reasons mentioned by the CBI to detain them
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