[BREAKING] Delhi High Court issues notice to NBSA, News 18, Times Now in Disha Ravi's plea against Toolkit FIR leak

The Delhi High Court today issued notice to the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA), News 18, and Times Now in the petition filed by climate change activist Disha Ravi against the leak of the FIR filed in the toolkit case (Disha A Ravi v. State & Ors).

The Court noted that India Today, one of the respondents, was already being represented through Advocate Hrishikesh Baruah.

Appearing for Ravi, Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal informed a Single Judge Bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh that the 21-year old was arrested from Bangalore and has been in police custody ever since.

Raising concerns with respect to the reportage on her arrest, Sibal argued,

"Police appears to be the driving force of this infraction. It is not a barren area anymore. The Courts have taken note..."

In response, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Court that there was "no leak" from the Delhi Police.

SG Mehta also added that Central government was not a necessary party in the present petition.

He was appearing with Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma.

"This (petition) is for media attention...", SG Mehta remarked.

After recording SG Mehta's stand on the absence of any leak from Delhi Police's end, the Court said,

"Let an affidavit be filed."

The Court opined that the matter required consideration and listed it for hearing tomorrow morning.

At the very outset, Justice Singh disclosed that during her days at the Bar, she had appeared for Times Now.

She proceeded to hear the matter only after recording that the parties had no objections with respect to the same.

In her petition, Disha has claimed that she is being viscerally attacked by Delhi Police and several media houses on the basis of leaked investigative matter and prejudicial press briefings.

Such conduct, it is asserted, goes against her presumption of innocence, and violates her right to fair trial, thereby affecting the administration of justice.

Ravi was apprehended by the Delhi Police on Saturday night alleging that she had made edits to a Google document that was shared as a “toolkit” related to the ongoing farmers protests.

The toolkit has been the basis for the case registered by Delhi Police after Swedish climate activist, Greta Thunberg had tweeted the same expressing support for the farmers protests.

The Delhi Police has claimed that the “toolkit” itself was created by a Khalistani group, Poetic Justice Foundation and was edited by Disha Ravi. It was Ravi who shared the same with Thunberg, the police alleged.

Ravi's police custody also ends tomorrow.