Criticism of SC's observations against Setalvad 'politically motivated': Ex-judges, officers
New Delhi(PTI): With a section of civil society criticising the Supreme Court's denunciation of activist Teesta Setalvad, a group of former judges and bureaucrats on Tuesday slammed their remarks as "politically motivated" and supported a criminal case against her.
In a statement, the group of 190 former judges and bureaucrats besides veterans said the registration of an FIR against the Gujarat riot case activist-- who is now under arrest -- and others is strictly in accordance with the law and the accused can always take recourse to judicial remedies.
"A politically motivated section of civil society has made attempts to cast aspersions on the integrity of the judiciary at large and in this case, this section has attempted to pressure the judiciary to expunge remarks which are unfavourable to Setalvad and the two guilty ex-IPS officers who have fabricated evidence," it said.
The Supreme Court acted in a matter which was within its jurisdiction and any action for modification of its proceedings must take form of a regular motion and even as this section of civil society pretends that citizens are totally disturbed and dismayed with the court's order, it said.
The law abiding citizens are disturbed and dismayed at the attempt to disrupt the rule of law, the statement from 13 retired judges, 90 formed bureaucrats and 87 ex-armed forces officers said.
Former high court judges R S Rathore, S N Dhingra and M C Garg, former IPS officers Sanjeev Tripathi, Sudhir Kumar, B S Bassi and Karnal Singh, former IAS officers G Prasanna Kumar and Prema Chandra, and Lt Gen (retired) V K Chaturvedi are among the signatories to the statement titled "Interference in judiciary not acceptable".
Several human rights groups and civil society members had criticised the Supreme Court's comments against Setalvad and others, leading to the Gujarat Police registering a case and arresting her and former state DGP R B Sreekumar.
The Supreme Court had last month upheld the Special Investigation Team's (SIT) clean chit to then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and 63 others in the 2002 riots in the state and dismissed a plea by slain Congress leader Ehsan Jafri's wife Zakia Jafri.
The court had also slammed Setalvad, who had been pursuing the case, and "disgruntled" officials of Gujarat among others for making revelations which, it said, were false to their own knowledge. It was done to keep the pot boiling, and such people need to be in the dock, it had said.
The signatories of this letter described themselves as law abiding citizens having faith in the legal system and urges the apex court to not expunge any of its remarks in the case or be intimidated by the "tactics of such institutional disruptors".
Rather, the court should allow the law to take its own course and uphold it majesty and dignity by ensuring that the public confidence in the judicial system stays intact, it said.
The accused can always take resort to the provisions of the law and the Constitution, it said.
"There is no prejudice to anyone in view of the robust judicial system in the country. Neither Teesta Setalvad nor R B Sri kumar nor Sanjiv Bhatt can selectively use court proceedings against others and not face the process of law themselves," it added.
The whole world knows, the group of retired judges and officials noted, and it was also recorded in various Supreme Court orders that it was on Setalvad's request that the court constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
The members of the SIT were also selected by the court, and its entire probe was conducted under direct judicial monitoring and supervision.
"It is this SIT which has found Setalvad and her accomplices involved in various crimes. The Supreme Court has, therefore, rightly observed in its judgment what it observed. There must be accountability for malicious prosecution and fabrication of evidence," the statement said.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
