Social activist Teesta Setalvad on Saturday demanded that the ongoing misappropriation of funds case against her be conducted under the supervision of the Supreme Court by and by an agency outside Gujarat.
Ms. Setalvad, her husband Javed Anand and others are accused of fraudulent acts regarding the construction of a memorial for the 2002 Gujarat riot victims.
She on her part has termed the allegations "baseless".
She also hit out at large sections of the television media, comparing them to khap panchayats for hounding her. "It is shocking that large sections of the television media have been like a khap panchayat not even attempting to go into both sides," the former journalist said, reports The Hindu.
The Supreme Court had on Friday put a stay on her arrest till 19 February.
Ms. Setalvad also raised questions on the Gujarat Crime Branch's credentials, saying that she and her husband were "extremely disturbed and upset" by the Gujarat High Court Order, which cancelled their anticipatory bail recently.
"We are and have always been prepared for a transparent and fair investigation. But can the Crime Branch today within Gujarat have collected documented evidence and also launched prosecutions that are pending? Can such an Investigation ever be impartial or not vindictive?" asked Ms. Setalvad in a Facebook post.
"We ask for fair hearing, not privilege," she further said. "We will answer each and every charge, piece by piece, with documentary evidence. We have done no wrong. We have functioned legitimately. But in a truly free and fair country, the facts need to be examined in detail and dispassionately," Ms. Setalvad added.
