News Analysis India

Tag: Disha Ravi arrest

  • Bail to Disha Ravi a big relief, reaffirms hope in judiciary, rejoice activists

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Welcoming the bail of climate activist Disha Ravi, fellow activists said it brought some hope on the judiciary.  

    “The bail is a big relief. It is a vindication in her specific case. It does not give me as much comfort as it should. In the case of the arrests of scores of people in Delhi in supporting peaceful protests, people like that have been denied bail. Even though there has been no evidence against them,” said CPI(ML) member Kavita Krishnan.

    “The minute the UAPA is invoked, the state is able to throw a citizen into jail without bail indefinitely. This is atrocious.”  Disha’s bail is a wake-up call to remind the people that bail is a right for everyone, she asserted. “Everyone should get bail as a norm. ” 

    ALSO READ: Climate activist Disha Ravi released from Tihar jail after court terms evidence as scanty and sketchy

    Vani from Saheli, a women’s rights group, said, “Things are like they should be. The bail is welcome. The judiciary should do what needs to be done, especially with these political arrests.”

    Congress leader P Chidambaram said the ‘lofty principle’ that bail was the rule was applied by the court in the case.

    Activist Saket Gokhale tweeted that in granting bail to Disha, the court specifically holds that there was no call for violence in the ‘toolkit’ and that sedition cannot be invoked “to minister to the wounded vanity of the governments”.

    ALSO READ: We are happy and thank all who supported us, says Disha Ravi’s mother after court grants bail

    Senior lawyer Indira Jaising asked why did the Bengaluru-based climate activist had to spend so many days in police custody. “Who will compensate her for lost time and dignity?”

    Lawyer Prashant Bhushan said the Delhi Police must be taken to task and held accountable.

    “Thank God for these judges who still understand the right to liberty & the rule that bail can be denied to an accused only in exceptional circumstances. The arrest was totally malafide. The Delhi Police must be taken to task.”

  • Toolkit row: Have not leaked anything related to Disha Ravi to media, police tells Delhi HC

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Delhi Police Thursday told the Delhi High Court that it has not leaked any material to the media in relation to its probe in the FIR against climate activist Disha Ravi for her alleged involvement in sharing a toolkit backing the ongoing farmers’ protest.

    The court was hearing Ravi’s plea to restrain police from leaking to the media any probe material in relation to the FIR lodged against her.

    The submission was made before Justice Prathiba M Singh by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the police.

    The court asked the police to file an affidavit containing its submission that it has not leaked any material relating to the investigation to the media.

    Since there were no counsels representing the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) and some of the media houses named in Ravi’s petition, the court issued notice to them and said it will hear the matter on Friday.

    The petition has also sought to restrain the media from publishing the content or extract of any private chats, including those on WhatsApp, between her and third parties.

    Ravi said she is “severely aggrieved and prejudiced by the media trial surrounding her arrest and the ongoing investigation, where she is being viscerally attacked by the respondent 1 (police) and several media houses”.

    She claimed that her arrest from Bengaluru on February 13 by a Cyber Cell team of Delhi Police was “wholly unlawfully and without basis”.

    She also contended that in the present circumstances, it was “highly likely” that the general public will perceive the news items “as being conclusive as to the guilt of the petitioner (Ravi)”.

    “In these circumstances, and to restrain the respondents from further violating her privacy, her reputation, and her right to a fair trial, the petitioner is moving the present petition,” the plea has said.

    Her petition has alleged that investigative matters have been leaked to the media and the press briefings by the police are “prejudicial” and “grossly violative of her right to a fair trial and presumption of innocence”.

    “The illegal actions and omissions on part of the respondents has irrevocably violated the petitioner’s fundamental right to privacy, her right to reputation, her dignity, and the consequent effect of the administration of justice and right to fair trial,” the petition has said.

    It has claimed that the police first “leaked investigative material” — like alleged WhatsApp chats — the substance and details of which were only in the possession of the investigating agency.

    Thereafter, the “private alleged WhatsApp chats” were publicised and disseminated by various media houses which was a violation of the provisions of the Cable Televisions Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 (CTN Act), the Programme Code and the Uplinking and Downlinking Guidelines, the petition has contended.

    It has also claimed that the “media houses have published one-sided defamatory, suggestive innuendos, and half truths about the petitioner”.

    Ravi’s plea has further contended that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the NBSA “have failed to exercise their statutory and self-regulatory powers in ensuring compliance with the Programme Code under the CTN Act and the Code of Ethics of National Broadcasting Standards Association”.

    Delhi Police, probing the “toolkit Google doc” backing the farmers’ agitation shared by climate activist Greta Thunberg, had arrested Ravi while Mumbai lawyer Jacob and Pune engineer Shantanu Muluk have been granted pre-arrest bail by court.

    A Delhi court had on February 14 sent Ravi to five day police custody after the agency said her custodial interrogation was required to probe an alleged larger conspiracy against the government of India and to ascertain her alleged role relating to the Khalistan movement.

    A toolkit is a document created to explain any issue.

    It also provides information on what one needs to do to address the issue.

    This might include information about petitions, details about protests and mass movements.

    Delhi Police had earlier asked Google and some social media giants to provide information about email ID, URLs and certain social media accounts related to the creators of the toolkit shared by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and others on Twitter in connection with the farmers’ protest.

    The Cyber Cell had lodged an FIR against “pro-Khalistan” creators of the toolkit for waging a “social, cultural and economic war against the government of India”.

    The case against unnamed persons was registered on charges of criminal conspiracy, sedition and various other sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

    The toolkit was aimed at spreading disaffection and ill-will against the government of India and creating disharmony among various social, religious and cultural groups, the police had claimed.

  • Toolkit row: NSUI protests against environment activist Disha Ravi’s arrest

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) staged an agitation here on Wednesday against the arrest of environment activist Disha Ravi and alleged that the government is “flirting with fascistic techniques” to quell democratic protests in the country.

    The members of the students’ wing of the Congress raised slogans against the BJP-led Centre and the Delhi Police for the “authoritarian crackdown on activists and supporters of the farmers’ agitation”.

    NSUI president Neeraj Kundan alleged that the Bengaluru-based climate activist was arrested and brought to Delhi without a transit warrant.

    “This government flirting with fascistic techniques of quelling democratic protests is nothing new. By waging a war against the students and youth of India, (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi’s authoritarian face has once again come out.”

    “Only four sedition cases out of the 191 filed after this government came to power have resulted in convictions. The government uses tough laws and misuses them to silence all dissenting voices,” he said in a statement.

    Ravi was arrested from Bengaluru on Saturday by the Delhi Police for allegedly creating and sharing a toolkit in support of the farmers’ agitation against the Centre’s new agriculture laws.

    The Delhi Police had said on Monday that Ravi, along with Mumbai-based lawyer Nikita Jacob and Pune-based engineer Shantanu Muluk, created the toolkit that was shared with others to tarnish India’s image and collaborated with pro-Khalistani elements.

    The NSUI said the government has “ignored the true essence of democracy” and its “Hitlership attitude” has ruined the country’s image, adding that it should look into the matters of Kapil Mishra and Anurag Thakur, who had allegedly incited violence in Delhi last year.

    “We recommend the government to put these people behind the bars, instead of locking those who are supporting the farmers’ protest,” it said.

  • Toolkit case: Disha Ravi’s arrest made in accordance with law, says Delhi Police chief 

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava on Tuesday said the arrest of climate activist Disha Ravi was made in accordance with law which “doesn’t differentiate between a 22-year-old or 50-year-old”.

    Talking to reporters at an event here, Shrivastava said it is wrong when people say that there were lapses in the arrest of the 22-year-old activist.

    Ravi was arrested from Bengaluru on Saturday in connection with a protest toolkit backing the farmers’ agitation.

    Police claimed that she had sent the toolkit to teen climate activist Greta Thunberg through the Telegram app, and also “coaxed her to act on it”.

    “Disha Ravi’s arrest has been made in accordance with law which doesn’t differentiate between a 22-year-old or a 50-year-old,” the Delhi Police chief said.

    He said Ravi has been sent to five-day police custody and the matter was being probed.

    Ravi along with Mumbai lawyer Nikita Jacob and Pune engineer Shantanu created the toolkit and shared it with others to tarnish India’s image, the Delhi Police had said on Monday.

    The data was also deleted, police claimed, adding that Ravi’s Telegram account shows many links related to the toolkit had been removed.

    Non-bailable warrants have been issued against Jacob and Shantanu.

  • Disha’s arrest reflects govt’s frustration in trouncing independent thinking: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday came out in support of climate activist Disha Ravi who was arrested by Delhi police over the “toolkit” controversy related to farmers’ protest on social media.

    Besides extending support to the climate activist, senior Congress leader launched a scathing attack on the Central government.

    “It is really ignominious to note that a 22-year-old environmental activist has become the victim of tyrannical govt, who thought that better to hector down a girl for her offence of supporting the farmers’ agitation and bow down before #China in #Ladakh than to uphold the basic rights of the common citizenry, and to teach a lesson to China,” Chowdhury tweeted.

    Attacking the central government over the arrest of the climate activist, the Congress leader said, “Narendra Modi Ji, you have been defeated morally by the satyagrahi farmers of India. It reflects your frustration in trouncing upon the independent thinking girl, putting her in jail. Today or tomorrow people of the country will deliver you a poetic justice.”

    Chowdhury in a subsequent tweet also said, “It is really ignominious to note that a 22-year-old environmental activist has become the victim of tyrannical govt, who thought that better to hector down a girl for her offence of supporting the farmers ‘ agitation and bow down before China in Ladakh than to uphold the basic rights of the common citizenry, and to teach a lesson to China.”

    Several political leaders slammed Delhi Police for arresting 21-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi from Bengaluru and termed her arrest as “unwarranted harassment, unfortunate and shocking”. She was arrested for allegedly editing and disseminating the “toolkit” on social media.

    Another Congress leader P Chidambaram said, “The Indian state must be standing on very shaky foundations if Disha Ravi, a 22-year-old student of Mount Carmel College and a climate activist, has become a threat to the nation.”

    A Delhi court on Sunday remanded Disha to five days of police custody following her arrest in connection with allegedly spreading a “toolkit” related to the farmers’ protest. Duty Metropolitan Magistrate Dev Saroha of Patiala House Courts Complex allowed Delhi Police to quiz Ravi for five days. She was arrested last week.

    According to the Delhi Police officials, Disha is a key conspirator in the “toolkit” case as she had admitted during the initial interrogation to editing, adding some things in the “toolkit” and spreading it further.

    Last week, the Delhi Police sent a communication to Google seeking registration details and activity log of the account through which a “toolkit” related to the farmers’ protest was created and uploaded on the social media platform. 

  • Prakash Karat demands immediate release of activist Disha Ravi arrested ‘toolkit’ controversy

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Senior CPI-M leader and the party politburo member Prakash Karat on Monday slammed the Narendra Modi government on the arrest of activist Disha Ravi and alleged that Delhi Police is acting under the direction of the Union Home Minister, adding that such prosecution of a young activist must stop.

    Speaking to ANI, Karat said that the arrest of Disha Ravi on charges of sedition and criminal conspiracy is an atrocious act by the Delhi Police. “She is a young environmental activist and what she has done is to extend support to the farmers. The toolkit which is supposed to be forwarded on the internet is nothing but a guideline on how to mobilise support for the farmers,” he said.

    “The Modi government has become paranoid. It is not willing to tolerate any activism or dissent. So we demand that Disha Ravi be forthwith released and the charges against her withdrawn. The Delhi Police is acting under the directions of the Union Home Minister. Such prosecution of a young activist must immediately stop,” said Karat.

    The senior CPI-M leader further said, “Who is Greta? She is a well-known environmental activist, just like Disha is. The “toolkit” explains how support can be mobilised for farmers, what is wrong with it? As I said, this is a part of a democratic movement or activity. How do you mobilise support for the farmers? The allegations are totally baseless.”

    21-year-old “climate activist” Disha Ravi has been sent to five days police custody for allegedly editing and disseminating the “toolkit” on social media. She was arrested by the Delhi Police cyber cell from Bengaluru on Saturday for her alleged role in spreading a “toolkit” related to the farmers’ protest.

    A Delhi court on Sunday remanded Disha to five days of police custody following her arrest in connection with allegedly spreading a “toolkit” related to the farmers’ protest. Duty Metropolitan Magistrate Dev Saroha of Patiala House Courts Complex allowed Delhi Police to quiz Ravi for five days. She was arrested on Saturday.

    Last week, the Delhi Police sent a communication to Google seeking registration details and activity log of the account through which a “toolkit” related to the farmers’ protest was created and uploaded on the social media platform.

    Two e-mail IDs, one Instagram account, and one Uniform Resource Locator (URL) were mentioned in the toolkit and police have asked for details from the respective platforms.

    The police had registered an FIR against unidentified persons in connection with the creators of the “toolkit’.  

  • Unarmed Disha strikes fear among those who have weapons: Priyanka Gandhi on arrest of activist

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday came out in support of climate activist Disha Ravi who was arrested by Delhi police over the “toolkit” controversy related to farmers’ protest on social media and said that the unarmed girl has struck fear among those who are armed with guns.

    “People with guns are afraid of an unarmed girl. Rays of courage and hope are being spread through an unarmed girl #ReleaseDishaRavi #DishaRavi #IndiaBeingSilenced,” tweeted the Congress leader.

    Several political leaders slammed Delhi Police for arresting 21-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi from Bengaluru and termed her arrest as “unwarranted harassment, unfortunate and shocking”.

    She was arrested for allegedly editing and disseminating the “toolkit” on social media.

    Another Congress leader P Chidambaram said, “The Indian state must be standing on very shaky foundations if Disha Ravi, a 22-year-old student of Mount Carmel College and a climate activist, has become a threat to the nation.”

    “A ‘tool kit’ to support the farmers’ protest is more dangerous than the intrusion by Chinese troops into Indian territory! India is becoming the theatre of the absurd and it is sad that the Delhi Police has become a tool of the oppressors,” he added.

    A Delhi court on Sunday remanded Disha to five days of police custody following her arrest in connection with allegedly spreading a “toolkit” related to the farmers’ protest. Duty Metropolitan Magistrate Dev Saroha of Patiala House Courts Complex allowed Delhi Police to quiz Ravi for five days. She was arrested on Saturday.

    According to the Delhi Police officials, Disha is a key conspirator in the “toolkit” case as she had admitted during the initial interrogation to editing, adding some things in the “toolkit” and spreading it further.

    Last week, the Delhi Police sent a communication to Google seeking registration details and activity log of the account through which a “toolkit” related to the farmers’ protest was created and uploaded on the social media platform.

    Two e-mail IDs, one Instagram account, and one Uniform Resource Locator (URL) were mentioned in the toolkit and police have asked for details from the respective platforms.

    The police had registered an FIR against unidentified persons in connection with the creators of the “toolkit’. 

  • Toolkit case: After arresting Disha Ravi, Delhi Police issue non-bailable warrants against two more activists

    Express News Service
    BENGALURU/NEW DELHI: After arresting climate activist Disha Ravi (21) from Bengaluru, the Delhi Police on Monday obtained non-bailable arrest warrants against Bombay High Court lawyer Nikita Jacob and activist Shantanu. 

    According to sources, the Delhi police allege that Jacob was involved in creating the controversial ‘toolkit’ that was reportedly tweeted by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg in support of the ongoing farmers’ protest against the three farm laws.

    The police have charged Disha with being the ‘key conspirator’ and editing the “toolkit Google doc” in the document’s formulation and dissemination. The police have alleged that the toolkit in question was created by a “pro-Khalistani” organisation, Poetic Justice Foundation to spread disaffection against the Indian State”, police alleged.

    #Toolkit case. After #DishaRavi Warrant for arrest of lawyer activist #nikitajacob #Shantanu. #DelhiPolice #GretaThunberg @XpressBengaluru @gsvasu_TNIE @santwana99
    — bala chauhan (@balachauhan) February 15, 2021

    Meanwhile, some student organisations and activist groups in Bengaluru are planning to hold protests on Monday evening against the unlawful arrest of Disha at the Mysore Bank circle in the city.

    ALSO READ: Release Disha Ravi, demand environmental activists in India

    Speaking to The New Indian Express, advocate Vinay K Srinivasa said, “There are several irregularities in the manner in which the Delhi police have arrested Disha. Why was Bengaluru police not informed? Why was she not produced before a local court for her transit remand or not allowed to speak to her lawyer in Bengaluru. Why was her family not informed about her arrest.”

    How did Delhi Police land in Bengaluru

    Ravi was picked up from her Bengaluru residence by the special cybercrime cell of the Delhi Police, who had filed an FIR on February 4 against unknown persons for sharing a toolkit on farmer protests in the national capital on social media sites, aiming to spread ‘disaffection against the Government of India’.

    ALSO READ: Environment advocates condemn arrest of Disha Ravi, demand swift release

    Last week, the Delhi Police had approached Google, seeking registration details and activity logs of accounts through which the ‘toolkit’ was created and uploaded on social media platforms.

    What is the ‘toolkit’

    The toolkit mentions two e-mail IDs, one Instagram account and one Uniform Resource Locator (URL), whose details the police have sought from respective platforms. “The action plan delineated in this toolkit and the unfolding of events including the violence of January 26 reveal a copycat execution of the action plan. It is definitely the intention of the creators of this toolkit to create disharmony among various social, religious and cultural groups and create disaffection and encourage ill-will against the government.

    The ‘toolkit’ exposes the conspiracy by an organised overseas network to instigate the farmer protests,” Special Commissioner (Crime Branch), Delhi Police, Praveer Ranjan said. Several social media accounts and websites are under scanner, the police said. Farmers have been protesting at Delhi-Haryana and Delhi-Uttar Pradesh borders since November 26 against the three contentious farm laws.

    The new warrants have come at a time when the arrest of Bengaluru-based Disha Ravi on conspiracy and sedition charges, have sparked outrage. Ravi was produced in a Delhi court on Sunday in the absence of her lawyers and sent to five-day police custody.