'Can't Put People Behind The Bars For Disagreeing With Govts': Delhi Court Grants Bail To Disha Ravi In Toolkit Case

Earlier in the day, Disha was taken to Delhi Police Cyber Cell's office on Tuesday for probe into the alleged 'toolkit' conspiracy case related to the farmers' agitation.

(Image: PTI)

New Delhi: Climate change activist Disha Ravi was granted bail by the Delhi Sessions Court on Tuesday on condition of furnishing two sureties of Rs 1 lakh each. The 21-year-old activist was arrested in connection with allegedly being involved in sharing a "toolkit" on social media related to the farmers' protest.

"In my considered opinion, Citizens are conscience keepers of government in any democratic Nation. They cannot be put behind the bars simply because they choose to disagree with the State policies. The offence of sedition cannot be invoked to minister to the wounded vanity of the governments," the court said while granting her the bail. 

"Considering the scanty and sketchy evidence available on record, I do not find any palpable reasons to breach the general rule of ' Bail' against a 22 years old young lady, with absolutely blemish free criminal antecedents and having firm roots in the society, and send her to jail," Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana said. 

Earlier in the day, Disha was taken to Delhi Police Cyber Cell's office on Tuesday for probe into the alleged 'toolkit' conspiracy case which related to a document created by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Toolkit case: In the order copy, Additional Session Judge Dharmender Rana states, &quot;Considering the scanty &amp; sketchy investigation, I do not find any palpable reason to breach the rule of bail for a 22-year-old girl who has absolutely no criminal antecedents&quot;. <a href="https://t.co/WMsimvYYcZ" rel='nofollow'>https://t.co/WMsimvYYcZ</a></p>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1364172584682627079?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel='nofollow'>February 23, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

As per reports, Disha was to be confronted with other co-accused in the case - Nikita Jacob and Shantanu Muluk who joined the investigation on Monday.

The Delhi Patiala Court had sent Disha to a one-day Police custody on Monday after her 5-day remand ended as Police told that her confrontation was required becasue she gave evasive replies during the five-day police custody following her arrest and shifted the blame onto Shantanu and another co-accused Nikita Jacob.

Disha faces charges of conspiracy and sedition in the 'Toolkit' conspiracy case related to the farmers' agitation and was arrested from Bengaluru on February 13. After getting arrested, Disha was first sent to five days of Police custody, followed by three days of judicial custody.

Amid high security, Disha was presented before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pankaj Sharma of the Patiala House Court last week after her three-day judicial custody ended.

The Police asked court for five days of remand to confront Disha with co-accused Jacob and Muluk. "She has shifted the burden to other accused. I have to confront her with them," the prosecutor told the court.

The prosecutor argued that there is no set formula for grant of bail and each case has to be seen on its own merit. "Police custody is not punishment. Fourteen days' custody is our right. This may be advantageous to her. She's shifting blame," he said.

The Delhi Police claimed that the 'toolkit' document tweeted by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg to back the farmers' agitation and then deleted, was created by Ravi and two other activists -- Jacob and Muluk.