Umamageswari Maruthappan
The Delhi Police had sought details from video conferencing app Zoom regarding the virtual meet organised by Poetic Justice Foundation held on 11th January 2021 that was attended by Disha Ravi, Nikita Jacob and Shantanu Muluk.
All the three, according to the Delhi Police, were active participants of the meeting which drafted a toolkit document that was pro-Khalistani and anti-national.
“The main aim of the toolkit was to create misinformation and disaffection against the lawfully enacted government. The Toolkit sought to artificially amplify the fake news and other falsehoods and also sought to precipitate action on 26th January,” the police stated.
Messaging App Whatsapp has also been requested to cooperate in this investigation. The Delhi Police demanded the details of chats in the Whatsapp Group named “International Farmers’ Strike” created by Disha Ravi on 6th December 2020.
Disha Ravi, Nikita Jacob and Shantanu are alleged to have been involved in a conspiracy relating to the Farmers’ Protest in Delhi. The revelation of the Toolkit by Climate Campaigner Greta Thunberg on 3rd February 2021 heated up the issue.
Consequently, the Police had arrested Ravi, who is also an environmental activist, while searches for Jacob and Shantanu were going on. It was also stated that the other two activists have sought anticipatory bail before the Bombay High Court.
“Disha Ravi has been arrested after following all due processes. Whether someone is 22 or 50 years old, the law treats everyone equally. The court was in agreement with the decision to arrest her, and we were given the remand for five days,” said SN Srivastava, Delhi Police Commissioner.
Ravi has been held in custody since 14th February 2021 and a non-bailable warrant has been executed against Nikita Jacob and Shantanu Muluk.
However, numerous activists and organizations have condemned the arrest of Disha. Even the opposition parties raised voices against the detention.“Silencing critics of the government through authoritarian means is not the rule of law. I urge the BJP government to desist from taking such punitive action and instead listen to the voices of dissent from young persons,” read the tweet of DMK President M. K. Stalin who is also the Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu.
Read more: Opposition condemns Disha Ravi Arrest in farmers protests “toolkit” case