Supreme Court 3-Judge Bench To Hear Teesta Setalvad's Plea To Release Passport Surrendered As Bail Condition

The Supreme Court today (April 13) directed that the Miscellaneous Application filed by human rights activist Teesta Setalvad for the release of her passport be listed before a three-judge bench.

It may be recalled that Setalvad was granted regular bail in 2023 in the Gujarat police case over the alleged fabrication of evidence in the 2002 riots cases. A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai(now retired), AS Bopanna(now retired) and Dipankar Datta quashed the Gujarat High Court's order, which denied her regular bail.

One of the conditions imposed for bail was that Setalvad's passport would continue to be in the custody of the Sessions Court.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal(for Teesta) informed about the MA before a bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma. The bench deemed fit to refer the matter before a three-judge bench since the bail order was passed in a three-judge bench combination.

Previously, the Court has allowed her to travel to Amsterdam for the world premiere of her documentary "CycleMahesh" and to Malaysia to attend an anti-racism conference, subject to conditions imposed.

Case Details: TEESTA ATUL SETALVAD vs. THE STATE OF GUJARAT, MA 1233/2026 in Crl.A. No. 2022/2023

Appearances Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal and AoR Abhimanue Shrestha for Setalvad