Sushree Mohanty
The Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court has allowed 10 days transit anticipatory bail to Subham Kar Chandhuri, a Goa-based activist associated with an organization called Extinction Rebellion, which was anticipating detention in the matter concerning the Toolkit case.
Justice M.S. Jawalkar permitted the transit bail application to Chandhuri after a plea was registered by him under section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure that sought for transit anticipatory bail in connection with the First Information Report (FIR) no. 49/2021 filed against him by the Delhi Police’s Cyber Crime Cell under sections 124A, 153A, and 120B of the Indian Penal Code.
The order passed by the single bench judge stated that
“The anticipation of detention is made out by the applicant. The purposes behind apprehension of detention are supported in current facts and conditions set out.”
“Admittedly, FIR is documented at New Delhi and any ordinary application for anticipatory bail under sec. 438 of CrPC would be considered by the competent court at Delhi. Subsequently, the candidate is entitled to protection via the grant of a transit bail to move toward the competent authority for seeking appropriate reliefs.”, it added.
Advocate Ryan da Piedade Menezes represented Shubham Chandhuri. Public Prosecutor S.G. Bhobe appeared on behalf of the State
Chandhuri submitted before the Court that he had volunteered himself for the “Extinction Rebellion” association and is presently a part of its South Asia Liaison. Shantanu Muluk and Nitika Jacob likewise have connections as being volunteers with the said association.
Chandhuri also submitted that Nikita Jacob, Shantanu Muluk, and Disha Ravi have supposedly conspired to make the online toolkit and consequently denied his role in the creation or spreading of the toolkit.
He further presented that he was “falsely implicated” for the matter and thereby has no association with the toolkit and any of the offenses listed out in the said First Information Report.
While granting his transit anticipatory bail plea, the Bombay High Court relied upon the decision of allowing 10 days transit anticipatory bail to Shantanu Muluk. This period was subsequently extended by the Delhi Court.