Disha Ravi’s bail plea hearing; Court asks police to produce evidence linking ‘toolkit’ to January 26 violence

A Delhi court is hearing a bail application moved by climate activist Disha Ravi, who was arrested on February 13 for allegedly creating an online “toolkit” intended to help farmers protesting against government’s three farm laws.

The Additional Solicitor General, SV Raju, appearing for the Delhi Police, in essence submitted that Disha Ravi was in contact with pro-khalistani organizations ‘Sikhs For Justice” and ‘Poetic Justice Foundation’, and created the ‘toolkit’ to incite hatred against India under the garb of farmers protest. The ASG submitted that Disha tried to delete the electronic records of her chats and documents, and this suggested a “prima facie guilty mind”.

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Advocate Siddharth Agarwal, appearing for Disha Ravi, said “I am a girl 22 years of age, living in Bangalore, a graduate, whose history, geography, past, present or future, have nothing to do with Khalistan”.

Meanwhile, the Delhi high court directed the media and the police to exercise restraint while giving out the details of the case. The order came on a Ravi’s plea. The high court, however, said that there should be a balance between the right to privacy and freedom of speech of people, and sovereignty and integrity of the country.

Thunberg had briefly tweeted a link to the toolkit – a Google document – earlier this month that police are investigating before replacing it with an “updated” one.

The Delhi Police have sought to link the toolkit with the January 26 violence in the national capital, and to pro-Khalistani organisations.