Mumbai, July 24
A CBI Special Court here on Friday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of social activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband Javed Anand, paving the way for her immediate arrest.

Soon after, her lawyers moved the Bombay High Court for relief.

Setalvad, Anand and some others have been charged by the Central Bureau of Investigation with fraud and irregularities under the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act on foreign donations received by the activist's Sabrang NGO.

On July 8, the CBI had registered a case against them for accepting foreign donations from the Ford Foundation without seeking prior permission of the concerned authorities.

Last week, the CBI followed this up with raids at Setalvad's residence and offices in Mumbai for allegedly diverting funds from the foreign donors to her organisation.

Bombay HC extends Setalvad's interim bail

In a breather for social activist Teesta Setalvad, the Bombay High Court on Friday extended her and her husband Javed Anand's interim bail by two weeks.

The high court order came barely hours after a special court rejected their anticipatory bail application, paving the way for their immediate arrest.

Anticipating arrest for custodial interrogation sought by the Central Bureau of Investigation, Setalvad's lawyers moved the Bombay High Court.

Setalvad, Anand and an associate G.M. Peshimam have been charged with committing fraud and irregularities pertaining to foreign donations received by her NGO, Sabrang Communications & Publishing Pvt. Ltd. under the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act.