Thunberg ‘Toolkit’: Non-Bailable Warrant Issued Against Mumbai Advocate Nikita Jacob, One Other
Image Courtesy: Twitter
New Delhi: Cracking down on activists who allegedly shared global climate activist Greta Thunberg’s tweeted ‘toolkit’ in support of the farmers protest, the Delhi Police has now got a non-bailable warrant against Mumbai-based advocate Nikita Jacob and Shantanu, as per media reports.
The warrant comes hours after 21-year-old environmental activist Disha Ravi was arrested by the police from Bengaluru and was remanded to 5-day police custody by the Patiala House court, according to Bar & Bench.
Jacob has also been charged with allegedly editing documents which were shared as 'toolkit' related to the farmer protests much before it went viral on social media platforms.
According to a tweet by LiveLaw, “Advocate Nikita Jacob has moved the Bombay High Court for transit anticipatory bail. Matter will be listed tomorrow before Justice PD Naik.”
#Breaking : Advocate Nikita Jacob has moved the Bombay High Court for transit anticipatory bail. Matter will be listed tomorrow before Justice PD Naik.
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) February 15, 2021
The warrants come close on the heels of Ravi’s arrest from Bengaluru on Sunday, which invoked widespread outrage across the various walks of life, with several citizens, civil society groups, environmental and social activists decrying the ‘harsh’ move to slap her with sedition charges. The legality of the process was also questioned as the activist was produced in a Delhi court without her lawyers and sent to five days in police custody.
Congress leader and former environment minister Jairam Ramesh, termed the Delhi Police action as “tanashahi of Amit Shah” ( dictatorship of (home minister) Amit Shah) in a tweet:
Delhi Police on the rampage. After Disha Ravi, it is now the turn of another young woman, Nikita Jacob. More will no doubt follow...
This is Tanashaahi in New India called Amit Shahi!#IndiaWontBeSilenced https://t.co/Er0iY8VRZN
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) February 15, 2021
Jacob's Linkedin profile states that she is a law graduate from the Indian Law Society College at Pune and had practiced with several law firms in Mumbai since then, as per the B&B report. She is reportedly also linked with the Aam Aadmi Party.
The Delhi Police has claimed that, according to their investigations, the organisation behind the "toolkit" shared by Greta Thunberg - Poetic Justice Foundation - had contacted Nikita Jacob to organise a "tweet storm" ahead of the Republic Day protest by farmers. The organisation is a Khalistani group, the police say.
Read Also: Thunberg 'Toolkit': 21-Year-Old Climate Activist Arrested, Sent to 5-day Police Custody
In a statement, however, PJF, said: “Poetic Justice Foundation did not coordinate any protest activities occurring within India. Up to India’s Republic Day, January 26th, 2021, and beyond — whether at Red Fort in Delhi or elsewhere in the country — we were not involved in directing or fomenting any protest activity of any sort within India.”
On Sunday, Ravi broke down in court and said: "I did not make Toolkit. We wanted to support the farmers. I edited two lines on February 3.
On February 3, Greta Thunberg had tweeted the "toolkit" to show support for the farmers' protest against the centre's farm laws at the borders of Delhi since November. She later deleted the tweet, posting an updated one.
PTI adds: The Delhi Police on Monday alleged that climate activist Disha Ravi along with two other suspects Nikita Jacob and Shantanu created the "toolkit" document related to the farmers' protest and shared it on social media.
Earlier, the Delhi Police had said non-bailable warrants have been issued against Jacob and Shantanu for allegedly sharing the "toolkit" on social media.
Addressing a press conference, Joint Commissioner of Police (Cyber) Prem Nath claimed that Disha deleted a WhatsApp group she created to spread the "toolkit".
"Disha , Shantanu and Nikita created and edited the toolkit. Disha sent the toolkit to Greta Thunberg through the Telegram app. Disha deleted a whatsapp group which she created to spread the toolkit. Due procedure was followed during Disha's arrest," he claimed.
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