Climate activist Disha Ravi, arrested in connection with the sharing of an online 'toolkit' related to the ongoing farmers protests on social media, was sent to three-day judicial custody by a Delhi court on Friday.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Akash Jain sent Disha to jail after the Delhi Police informed the court that her custodial interrogation was not required for the time being. The 21-year-old activist, who faces charges of conspiracy and sedition, was produced before the court on expiry of her five-day custodial interrogation.
Disha was arrested by a team of Delhi Police from Bengaluru on Saturday evening.
According to police, Disha, along with Mumbai lawyer Nikita Jacob and Pune-based engineer Shantanu Mukul, is an editor of the toolkit document and a key conspirator in its dissemination. The Delhi court had issued a non-bailable warrant against both Nikita and Shantanu, but the duo got transit anticipatory bail from the Bombay High Court.
The 'toolkit' document had triggered a storm after Swedish environment activist Greta Thunberg shared it on Twitter, prompting the Delhi Police to launch a probe into the alleged international conspiracy to defame the Indian govvernment.
According to police, it was Disha who shared the toolkit with Thunberg. They further said that the activist had collaborated with pro-Khalistani Poetic Justice Foundation to spread disaffection against the Indian state.
The police had earlier said that the 'toolkit' predated and indicated a copycat execution of a conspiracy behind the January 26 violence in Delhi.
Thousands of farmers, protesting against the new farm laws passed by the Centre, clashed with police and stormed the Red Fort, where a religious flag was hoisted on the Republic Day. Over 500 police personnel were injured and one protester died.
Disha's arrest had drawn criticism from several opposition parties and activists who accused the Narendra Modi government of trying to silence the voices against it. The Delhi Police, however, defended the arrest, saying they have recovered highly incriminating information from Disha's phone.
