Teesta Setalvad's residence in Mumbai which is being raided by CBI. (TOI photo)

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Centre asks CBI to probe activist Teesta Setalvad's firm

Case in brief and timeline:

Accused:

2014:

Allegations against them:

Charges:

Possible punishment if found guilty:

What Teesta told court:

January 10, 2014:

October 2014:

February 12, 2015:

February 12, 2pm:

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(With inputs from agencies)

MUMBAI: A team of CBI officers are conducting searches at activist Teesta Setalvad's house in Juhu.The raids which started on Tuesday morning is expected to continue till evening.The CBI sleuths carried out searches at four places in Mumbai at the premises of Setalvad, her husband Javed Anand, Gulam Mohammed Peshimam and office of Sabrang Communications and Publishing, a move flayed by the social activist who said that she was cooperating with the CBI."We are surprised and shocked at this," Teesta said, adding, "We have been offering full cooperation.""We had written a letter to CBI offering full cooperation and telling the agency that whatever so-called offences are registered against us, we will cooperate. So we don't understand the rationale behind this entire operation," Setalvad, who was at fore front of campaign for 2002 Gujarat riots victims, said."We believe that it is a caged-parrot in operation and its a political vendetta and they are trying to humiliate and intimidate us," she said, noting "the team here is very professional but we don't know where it will end".The raid is in connection with a case filed against her in Gujarat where she is accused of appropriating funds collected for her NGO, which was helping victims of the communal riots in that state.She has denied all charges and her plea to prevent an arrest went all the way to the Supreme Court.Setalvad was at home when the team from the Central Bureau of Investigation arrived on Tuesday.Earlier in June, when there were rumours that her house was being raided, she had told TOI, “It is a brazen attempt to stifle freedom of expression and assembly. we have violated no law. These endless multiple enquiries first by Gujarat and now by the Centre show that this government has nothing better to do than prosecute and persecute those who have stood up for the marginalized."CBI books Teesta, hubby for ‘illegal’ foreign aidTeesta Setalvad and her husband Javed AnandGujarat police register FIR against Teesta and JavedSetalvad had “embezzled funds" collected in the name of the 2002 Godhra riot victims.Teesta and her husband Javed exhibited photographs and video of Gulberg Society and other affected areas from 2002 riot-hit Gujarat and used the website of their voluntary organisation Citizen for Justice and Peace (CJP) and Sabrang to appeal for donations for riot victims. When donations poured in they used it for personal expenses instead of giving it to the riot victims.Offences of cheating (section 420, Indian Penal Code), criminal breach of trust (section 406 IPC), criminal conspiracy (Section 120-B IPC and section 72(A) of the Information Technology Act for disclosure of information in breach of lawful contract.Maximum seven years of imprisonment for cheating or fine or both Maximum three years for criminal breach of trust or fine or both Maximum three years of jail or fine for offence under the IT ActThe Gujarat police filed the FIR with malafide intent to intimidate a human rights defender. This is the fifth false criminal case lodged since 2004.Bombay HC grants interim protection against arrest to Teesta and Javed in the case.HC transfers their plea to Gujarat HC, cites lack of jurisdiction to hear it.The Gujarat high court rejects anticipatory bail plea; court also rejects a demand to stay the order to enable appeal in the Supreme CourtSupreme Court stays Gujarat HC order till it hears Teesta’s appeal against the rejection order.तीस्ता सीतलवाड़ के मुंबई स्थित ऑफिस और आवास पर सीबीआई की रेड