Gujarat High Court grants Teesta Setalvad relief in case about posting objectionable pictures on Twitter

The Gujarat High Court granted a stay on any legal action against rights activist Teesta Setalwad in Ahmedabad on Monday, in a case related to posting allegedly objectionable pictures of Hindu gods and goddesses on Twitter.

Justice JB Pardiwala of the Gujarat High Court granted the stay in connection with an FIR filed in Bhavnagar city until further hearing on December 3 and also served a notice to the complainant through the investigating officer of the Gujarat police.

Setalwad had sought for quashing of the FIR lodged in Bhavnagar city saying there were two FIRs lodged for the same offence in Bhavnagar and in Ahmedabad city, which is contrary to legal provisions.

"There cannot be two FIRs against the same person for the same offence, while in this case, two separate FIRs were lodged by the Gujarat police at two different police stations," Advocate YN Rawani told the Gujarat High Court.

An FIR was lodged against Setalwad by a social worker Kirit Mistry in 'C' division police station in Bhavnagar city on August 23 accusing her of displaying objectionable pictures of Hindu gods and goddesses.

Setalwad was charged with promoting enmity between two religious groups and committing deliberate malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs under Sections 153(A) and 205(A) of the IPC.

The FIR filed in Bhavnagar had also demanded action against Setalwad for projecting Hindu gods and goddesses in bad light and hurting religious sentiments.