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Journalism of Courage
During a hearing in a metropolitan court here,the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Tuesday opposed activist Teesta Setalvads plea to allow her to examine its original closure report on behalf of complainant Zakia Jafri.
Citing a defamation suit filed against Teesta in which she has been accused by her former associate Rais Khan of paying money to witnesses to lie,the SIT said an NGO had nothing to do with a criminal case.
There is no provision in law to bring a private person in a criminal case, said R S Jamuar,who is representing the SIT.
Jamuar also waved newspaper clippings carrying articles about Teesta being accused of paying off witnesses.
When Zakias counsel,Mumbai-based Mihir Desai,countered that it could have been done on SITs provocation,Jamuar said,SIT is everything but a schmoose (SIT sub kuch hai per chugalkhor nahi hai).
The SIT also rubbished the power of attorney in which Teesta has been allowed by complainant Zakia Jafri to examine the bulky report on the latters behalf.
The same court had refused to allow Teesta from inspecting the report on the ground that she was not a lawyer on record and had posted the matter for further hearing on June 26.
Earlier,Desai had argued that since Zakia was old and busy with social obligations,Teesta should be allowed to examine the report on her behalf.
The next hearing in the matter will be on July 4.
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