The Delhi Patiala House Court has sent activist Disha Ravi to 3-day judicial custody on Friday in a toolkit case relating to farmers' protest. The activist was produced before Additional chief metropolitan magistrate Aakash Jain at the Patiala House Court. On February 14, Disha was sent to 5-day police remand earlier and police said that Disha had been dishonest during the investigation, shifted the blame onto co-accused Nikita Jacob and Shantanu Muluk, hence, they needed three days more, said Delhi Police Prosecutor Irfan Ahmed. A notice has been served to Shantanu and the reason Disha has to be confronted in front of him.
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.
"Disha was evasive during her previous interrogation and tried to shift the blame on the co-accused," said the police.
"During interrogation, Disha Ravi has shifted the blame on Nikita and Shantanu. All the accused need to be confronted with each other. That's why three days of judicial custody is being sought, the prosecutor added.
Lawyer Sidharth Aggarwal representing Disha opposed the police application, said, “The police must hand over the case diary to the court. There is a possibility of tampering in this case. They are claiming various things.”
Aggarwal told the court that there is no material or evidence except the diary submitted by the police, “They have to be paginated and they can’t submit loose sheets…this is loosely collated and cannot be taken cognizance of. So I (Ravi) have to be released and when they produce the case diary then I will be produced.”
The toolkit according to the police had references of deeper conspiracy against India and Disha was the “key conspirator” in the formulation and dissemination of the document and that she collaborated with the pro-Khalisatani Poetic Justice Foundation to “spread disaffection against Indian state” and also shared the doc with Greta Thunberg to show support the farmers' protest.
While advocate-activist Nikita Jacob and Shantanu Muluk have secured transit bail in the toolkit case connection.
On Friday, a Delhi court directed police to ensure that case materials are not leaked and also asked the media agencies to verify the information and publish what is authentic and not cause any hamper to the case. Earlier, the court had also directed the Delhi Police to hand over Ravi a copy of the FIR and other documents related to her arrest.