Delhi police on Monday said they were conducting raids in Mumbai and other places to nab Jacob and Shantanu who is known so far only by one name.
Friends and relatives of Disha Ravi hold placards that read ‘Free Disha’, outside a police station in Bengaluru, on Sunday. Pic/PTI
Non-bailable warrants have been issued against a Mumbai lawyer and a Pune engineer for allegedly creating a protest toolkit backing the farmers’ agitation along with arrested climate activist Disha Ravi and collaborating with pro-Khalistani elements, Delhi police alleged on Monday.
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Lawyer Nikita Jacob and engineer Shantanu also attended a Zoom meeting organised by ‘pro-Khalistani’ group Poetic Justice Foundation, Joint Commissioner of Police (Cyber) Prem Nath said. “Disha, Shantanu and Nikita created and edited the toolkit. Disha sent the toolkit to Greta Thunberg through Telegram. Disha deleted a Whatsapp group she created to spread the toolkit. Due procedure was followed when Disha was arrested,” he said.
Delhi police on Monday said they were conducting raids in Mumbai and other places to nab Jacob and Shantanu who is known so far only by one name.
Jacob approached the Bombay High Court seeking transit anticipatory bail for four weeks so she can approach the concerned court in Delhi to apply for pre-arrest bail. The HC will hear the plea on Tuesday.
In her plea, jacob said she’s unaware if she is named as an accused or witness in the case. “However, the applicant (Jacob) fears that she may be arrested due to political vendetta and media trial,” her application said.
Meanwhile, opposition parties and farmer leaders have demanded immediate release of Ravi. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led the opposition offensive and said the country will not be silenced.
His party colleague Jairam Ramesh said, “Delhi police on the rampage. After Disha Ravi, it is now the turn of another young woman, Nikita Jacob. More will no doubt follow....”
In a tweet, Congress’s Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said those with guns are afraid of an unarmed girl. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal described Ravi’s arrest as an “unprecedented attack on democracy”.
As the debate got more polarised, Haryana’s Home Minister Anil Vij stepped in to say that whoever harbours the seed of anti-nationalism in their mind should be “completely destroyed”.
Senior CPI-M leader Prakash Karat slammed the Modi government and said, “... 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.”
‘India won't be silenced’
Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader
‘Your lips are free to speak. Say that the truth is still alive. They are scared, not the country. India will not be silenced’
Prakash Karat, senior CPI-M leader
‘The Modi government has become paranoid. It is not willing to tolerate any activism or dissent. Such prosecution of a young activist must immediately stop’
Raghav Chadha, AAP spokesperson
‘The BJP government has imposed a state of emergency in the country... Ravi’s arrest was an extrajudicial abduction’
Journo gets bail to visit ailing mother
The Supreme Court on Monday granted 5-day interim bail to journalist Siddique Kappan, arrested on his way to cover Dalit woman’s alleged gang-rape and death in Hathras, to visit his ailing mother.
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