[BREAKING] Toolkit Case: Delhi Court to pronounce orders in Disha Ravi's Bail Plea on February 23

A Delhi court today reserved orders in the bail plea moved by Disha Ravi, who was arrested last weekend on allegations that a Toolkit she edited has links to pro-Khalistani organisations who had sought to create violence amid the farmers' protests.

The matter was heard at length today by Judge Dharmender Rana, with ASG SV Raju and Public Prosecutor Irfan Ahmed appearing for the State while Advocate Sidharth Agarwal appeared for Ravi.

The State has contended that the investigation is at a nascent stage, that Ravi has acted to delete and tamper with evidence before and that she is likely to do so again if she is let out on bail.

It is the State's case that Ravi has conspired with pro-Khalistani Candian organisations, including Poetic Justice Foundation and Sikhs for Justice. The State has argued that the Toolkit is linked to violence that took place during the farmers' protests and that there is a conspiracy to defame India.

The State adds that it was as part of this conspiracy that Ravi had shared the Toolkit with Greta Thunberg, whose tweet on the same is argued to have unearthed the conspiracy. It was argued further,

"She asked Greta Thunberg to delete the document. If it was so innocuous, why did she ask Greta Thunberg to remove? This shows there was a sinister plan behind this toolkit."

While the Toolkit itself may not be incriminating, it must be viewed in the backdrop of Ravi's alleged communication with pro-Khalistani organisations and violence that has taken place, the State has argued.

During the course of the submissions, Judge Rana also questioned the Delhi Police if there was any evidence to link Disha Ravi with the violence that took place on Republic Day in the backdrop of the tractor rally organised by protesting farmers.

"What exactly is the evidence against this lady connecting her with the violence?.. Is there any evidence? Or are we on surmises on conjectures?", the Court asked.

While the ASG urged the Court to look at the "circumstances" and Disha's conduct of deleting data from her phone, the Court posed another query,

"If I approach a dacoit for temple donation, how do you say that I'm privy to dacoity? What is the material against her?"

It is not as simple as temple donation, ASG Raju replied.

On the other side, Advocate Agarwal contended that Ravi's history shows that she has no links with the Khalistan movement.

"She's not a rebel without a cause. Her cause is environment and agriculture. Fridays For Future is the only organization with which I'm alleged to have a connection", Agarwal submit.

He went on to contend,

"If highlighting the Farmers Protest on the global platform is sedition, then I'm guilty.. If thinking otherwise is a problem.. we're lowering the bar of thinking that someone may have an opinion different from ours.... The toolkit itself is not seditious....Problem is that I spoke to Greta Thunberg and convinced her to support Farm issues by a tweet.. the tweet is not about Khalistan movement."

He further told the Court that Ravi would cooperate with the investigation.

"I will not leave Delhi. I'm not here to obstruct any investigation.. I'm only seeking that balance."