Delhi court sends Disha Ravi to three-day judicial custody in 'toolkit' case

A Delhi court on Friday sent 22-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi, arrested in the toolkit case, to three-day judicial custody. Ravi was arrested earlier this month from her Bengaluru residence by Delhi Police.

Producing Ravi before the Patiala House court, the Delhi Police had sought her custody, saying she needed to be confronted with co-accused in the case.

Appearing on behalf of the police, the public prosecutor told the court that Ravi was evasive during interrogation and shifted the blame on co-accused Shantanu and Nikita. Ravi needs to be confronted with Shantanu when he joins the probe on February 22, and that is why the police needs her in custody for three days, the prosecutor reasoned.

According to the police, Nikita Jacob, her associate Shantanu and Ravi had created the toolkit on farmers’ protest. Disha had then sent the “toolkit” to global climate activist Greta Thunberg via Telegram app. Thunberg shared the same on her social media handle.

Earlier today, the Delhi High Court, while ruling on a petition filed by climate activist Disha Ravi, said the Delhi Police would be entitled to conduct press briefings so long as no rights of the petitioner were violated. Ravi had moved the court seeking direction to restrain the police from leaking to the media any probe material in relation to the FIR lodged against her in the ‘toolkit’ case.

The High Court said the editors of news channels must exercise proper editorial control so the investigation by the police is not hampered.

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“The media houses shall ensure that the broadcasts/telecasts by them are from verifiable and authentic sources. The editorial teams shall ensure that only verified content is broadcasted,” the court said. “While a journalist cannot be asked to reveal the source, it needs to be ensured that the source ought to be authentic and verifiable,” it added.