NEW DELHI: The CBIon Monday recorded the statement of activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand in connection with Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) violation and illegally accepting a donation without getting clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The agency had summoned Teesta and Javed to record their statements on three consecutive days since Saturday. In the meantime, the CBI court had on Friday reserved the order on their anticipatory bail applications till Tuesday, while granting them interim protection from arrest. “We have recorded all the statements of Teesta and her husband Javed ,” said a CBI official.
Meanwhile, Teesta said that she, along with her husband, had recorded their statements on three consecutive days as per the directions of the court. “Beyond this I cannot share anything as per the orders of my lawyers,” she said.
On Friday, the probe agency had opposed the bail plea contending that the motive behind the transfer of foreign contribution to Sabrang Communication and Publishing Pvt Limited reflected “interference towards the internal security and activities of India” and also contested Teesta’s claim that the money received was a fee for consultancy.
The agency had registered a case against Sabrang Communication and Publishing Pvt Limited and its three directors -- Teesta , Javed and Peshimam Gulam Mohammad on July 8, citing alleged “criminal conspiracy” for illegally accepting foreign contributions without registration and prior permission from MHA”, following which the CBI conducted raids at four places, including Teesta’s residence in Mumbai. The official said that the trio face a jail term of up to five years if found guilty.
Express had earlier reported that the Central government had ordered the CBI to probe Sabrang Communication and Publishing Pvt Limited for illegally accepting funds from US-based Ford Foundation and had even effected a freeze on the firm’s bank account located at Juhu, Mumbai, on June 26.
