Court bail to Disha over sketchy evidence; activist walks out of jail

NEW DELHI: In a blow to Delhi police, a court here Tuesday granted bail to climate activist Disha Ravi, arrested in connection with allegedly being involved in sharing a “toolkit” on social media related to the farmers’ protest, saying citizens are conscience keepers of government in any democratic nation and cannot be put behind the bars simply because they choose to disagree with the State policies. She was released from Tihar jail late on Tuesday.

The court said the evidence produced by police against Ravi was “scanty and sketchy” and there was nothing on record to establish any direct link between her and pro-Khalistan activists of ‘Poetic Justice Foundation’ (PJF) and also there was not even an iota of evidence brought connecting the perpetrators of the violence on Janury 26 in the national capital with the PJF or her.

Further, it observed that there was nothing on record to suggest that the activist subscribed to any secessionist idea and there is absolutely no link established on record between her and banned outfit Sikhs for Justice.

In the 18-page order, Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana granted relief to Ravi on a personal bond of Rs one lakh and two sureties of like amount and noted that the 22-year-old activist who was arrested by a Cyber Cell team of the Delhi Police from Bengaluru on February 13, has “absolutely blemish free criminal antecedents”.

Ravi has been slapped with the charge of sedition in the case which entails maximum punishment of life sentence. She is also booked for the offences of criminal conspiracy, provoking people to cause riot and promoting enmity between different groups. While the order on bail was being pronounced, Ravi was produced before another court on expiry of her custodial interrogation by police, which sought her further custody by four days. Ravi’s parents said it has reinforced their faith in the system. “I am happy that she got bail.It has reinforced our faith in the system,” Ravi’s mother Manjula s