Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg has extended support for Disha Ravi in connection with the ‘toolkit’ case. This is the first time that the teen crusader has reacted to the Indian activist’s arrest, who is part of the former’s Fridays for Future movement.
Disha, a 22-year-old, environmental activist from Bengaluru who was arrested earlier this month, was sent to three-day judicial custody after she was produced before a Delhi court on Friday, February 20.
She was arrested on charges of “sharing and spreading an incriminating ‘toolkit’ regarding the farmers’ protest, which allegedly led to incidents of violence in Delhi on January 26.
Taking to the micro-blogging site, Greta Thunberg wrote, “Freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest and assembly are non-negotiable human rights. These must be a fundamental part of any democracy. #StandWithDishaRavi” Greta said this while responding to a tweet put out by Fridays For Future, that also spoke out in favour of Disha Ravi.
Earlier in the day, Disha Ravi was sent to 3-day judicial custody by Patiala House Court in Delhi. Disha, who was arrested in the toolkit case, during police remand blamed other two co-accused Shantanu and Nikita, the Delhi Police informed today adding that she will now be confronted in front of Shantanu as part of the investigation.
Disha Ravi in Judicial Custody
A Delhi court today sent climate activist Disha Ravi, arrested for allegedly being involved in sharing a “toolkit” on social media related to the farmers’ protest, to three-day judicial custody.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Akash Jain sent Ravi, 21, to jail after Delhi Police produced her before the court on expiry of her five-day custodial interrogation.
Police said that her custodial interrogation was not required for the time being and the agency may seek her further interrogation once her co-accused — Shantanu Mukul and Nikita Jacob — join the interrogation. Police said Ravi was evasive during her previous interrogation and tried to shift the blame on the co-accused.
Mukul and Jacob have been asked to appear before the investigating agency on February 22, the agency told the court. The defence lawyer opposed the police plea and urged the court to release Ravi.
He further said that there was an apprehension of tampering of the evidence by police as the “case diary is not properly made… and in volume form. There’s no ground to keep her in any custody, police custody or judicial custody. I (Ravi) ought to be released right now”.
The court was also informed that the accused has moved a bail application which will come up for hearing on Saturday.
While seeking her custody, the police had told the court that the activist had allegedly edited the “toolkit” on February 3 and many other people were involved in the matter.
