Court says nothing on record to suggest she subscribed to secessionist idea, and that perusal of ‘toolkit’ reveals any call for any kind of violence is conspicuously absent
Disha Ravi leaves Patiala Court in in New Delhi on Monday. Pic/PTI
In a blow to Delhi police, a court on Tuesday granted bail to climate activist Disha Ravi, arrested for allegedly being involved in sharing a “toolkit” on social media related to the farmers’’ protest, terming evidence produced by police as “scanty and sketchy”.
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The court said there is nothing on record to establish any direct link between Ravi and proKhalistan activists of ‘Poetic Justice Foundation’ (PJF) and also there is not even an iota of evidence brought connecting the perpetrators of the violence on January 26 with the PJF or her. It added that there is nothing on record to suggest that the activist subscribed to any secessionist idea and there is absolutely no link established on record between her and banned outfit Sikhs for Justice.
Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana, who granted relief to Ravi on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and two sureties of same amount, noted that the accused had “absolutely no criminal antecedents.”
“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,” the judge said. He said perusal of the said ‘toolkit’ reveals that any call for any kind of violence is conspicuously absent.
“An aware and assertive citizenry, in contradistinction with an indifferent or docile citizenry, is indisputably a sign of a healthy and vibrant democracy,” it said. “The right to dissent is firmly enshrined under Article 19 of the Constitution. In my considered opinion the freedom of speech and expression includes the right to seek a global audience. It said that creation of a WhatsApp group or being editor of an innocuous Toolkit is not an offence.
Activist Nodeep says beaten up in custody
Labour rights activist Nodeep Kaur, 23, in her bail plea before the Punjab and Haryana HC has claimed she was severely beaten up at a police station following her arrest by Sonipat police last month, and her medical exam was not done. Lodged in Karnal jail, Kaur said she was falsely arraigned as accused in an FIR lodged under various sections, including attempt to murder, as she was successful in generating massive support for the ongoing farmer movement.
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