Police have said that Disha Ravi was being evasive.
New Delhi:
The online “toolkit”, cited by Delhi police to charge three people with sedition in recent days, was simply a “resource document,” environmental activist Disha Ravi said today in a Delhi court while presenting your bond statement. Delhi police contradicted that claim, opposing the 22-year-old’s request, saying it was a gateway to various websites that smear India and its military. Ms Ravi, the only person arrested so far in the case, is closely related to the Poetic Justice Foundation (PJF), which supports Khalistan, police told the court.
They have argued that bail can be denied if the defendant indulges in tampering with the evidence. “He has consistently refused to cooperate with the investigation. His devices have been sent to the FSL experts. Preliminary findings show that the contents have been removed. The investigation is still in a preliminary stage … That is destruction of evidence.” , argued the prosecution.
Ms Ravi was detained on February 13 from Bangalore in connection with the case of the Toolkit, a branch of the police investigation into the January 26 violence that broke out amid the farmers’ protest rally. on tractors in the national capital. Authorities believe foreign separatist forces were involved in the incidents that day. Apart from Ms Ravi, they have targeted two others, Nikita Jacob and Shantanu Muluk, in this regard.
Referring to Mr. Muluk, the police said that the advance traffic bond that he obtained should not be cited in Ms. Ravi’s case, as the Bombay High Court had not examined the merits of the case.
All three are accused of creating the toolkit for organizing an international campaign against India, which was inadvertently revealed by Swedish eco-warrior Greta Thunberg, who tweeted it before deleting it.
Upon hearing Ms. Ravi’s plea today, the court asked, “What is a toolkit?” The judge also asked what was the legal impediment that prevented the Bengaluru woman from moving the bond. “What is the history of the prosecution? What are the accusations against Disha Ravi? What is the evidence against her?” the court raised three questions.
Delhi police explained that Canada-based PJF advocates the creation of a state in Khalistan. Tweets from the “secessionist organization” are evident on its agenda, they said.
“They wanted to take advantage of the farmers’ protest. They wanted an Indian face. They contacted few people, including Disha Ravi. A mechanism was devised. The purpose of making this toolkit was a conspiracy between the defendants,” said the police. argument.
In compliance with this conspiracy, the prosecution said, Ms. Ravi created a WhatsApp group, “International Farmers Strike,” on December 6. He claimed that there were also attempts to contact PJF.
On January 11, police alleged, a Zoom call was placed between PJF founder MO Dhaliwal and Ms Ravi. Several such meetings followed, the court was told. The toolkit itself was reportedly written on January 20, and its final version was shared three days later.
“There was no need to share this toolkit with PJF. It has nothing to do with the farmers’ protest. That also clandestinely. It was a sinister plan,” argued the police.
A hyperlink was provided in this toolkit, they said adding that link led to a different website: CurrentGenocideWatch.com. “That website talks about genocide, Kashmir … and defamation of the Indian army. This toolkit was cleverly designed to defame India and the Indian army,” police told the court.
Ms. Ravi was housed in Tihar Jail in Delhi for the past three days. Police had told her yesterday that she was being evasive and was not cooperating with the investigation.
“We would need custody of Disha after February 22 to confront her with the other defendants. If she is released on bail, the investigation will be thwarted,” they said.
The arrest of the young activist has sparked outrage and has been called “appalling” by many. “I did not make the toolbox. We wanted to support the farmers. I edited two lines on February 3,” he had told the court last Sunday. Yesterday, the Delhi High Court warned the media against sensationalism in the case after Ms Ravi tried, seeking action against three news channels and ordered the police not to leak investigative material.
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