‘Toolkit’ case: Nikita gets 3 weeks transit pre-arrest bail
The Bombay high court on Wednesday granted transit bail to Nikita Jacob, a lawyer by profession and also an environmental activist, in connection with "Toolkit", case, also involving a Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg. The court has granted her interim relief from arrest for three weeks so that she could appear before concerned court in Delhi and seek regular anticipatory bail.
While granting transit bail to Jacob, Justice P.D. Naik observed that the applicant was a permanent resident of Mumbai and the police case was lodged in Delhi. Also, the relief sought by her was only temporary. He also said that the applicant apprehends that she will be arrested at any point of time. She has to make arrangements to seek relief from a court in another state. Hence, this court is of the opinion that protection as sought by the applicant can be granted for a temporary period.
The HC had reserved its order on her plea on Tuesday for Wednesday after hearing arguments on the petition.
The toolkit was meant to garner international support for the ongoing farmers’ protest against three new Central farm laws.
Jacob’s lawyer on Tuesday had contended before the court that there was a Zoom meeting before Republic Day, which was attended by Poetic Justice Foundation founder M.O. Dhaliwal, and other fellow activists, including Ms Ravi, whom the police have already arrested from Bengaluru in connection with the formulation and dissemination of the “Toolkit” document.
The court was further informed that the "toolkit" was prepared by Extinction Rebellion (XR) India volunteers for presenting the whole picture with a simple breakdown for an international audience.
The accused persons have been booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 124(a) for sedition, 153(a) for promoting enmity between different sections of the society and 120(b) for criminal conspiracy.
The Delhi police’s allegations is that she, along with Bengaluru environmentalist Disha Ravi and Maharashtra engineer Shantanu Muluk, had created a toolkit meant to tarnish India's image. In the process, they were allegedly in direct touch with "pro-Khalistani elements
WHILE GRANTING transit bail to Jacob, Justice P.D. Naik observed that the applicant was a permanent resident of Mumbai and the police case was lodged in Delhi. Also, the relief sought by her was only temporary.