The Delhi Police has claimed that activist Nikita Jacob is absconding. (Photo:Twitter/@nikitajacob)

After Disha Ravi arrest, Delhi Police warrant out for activist Nikita Jacob in toolkit case

After the arrest of Disha Ravi, non-bailable warrant has been issued against activist-lawyer Nikita Jacob who the Delhi Police says in on the run, and another activist Shantanu. Nikita Jacob has, meanwhile, moved the Bombay HC for interim protection against police action.

by · India Today

After the arrest of 21-year-old Disha Ravi, a Delhi court has issued non-bailable warrants against activists Nikita Jacob and Shantanu in connection with Delhi Police's interrogation into the Greta Thunberg toolkit case.

The arrest warrant against activist-lawyer Nikita Jacob came hours after 21-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi was remanded to five-day Delhi Police Special Cell custody. Disha Ravi was arrested on Saturday for her alleged involvement in sharing the toolkit related to the farmer's protest on social media.

Sources claimed that a non-bailable warrant was issued against Nikita Jacob by a Delhi court on Monday at the request of Delhi Police, who claimed that the activist-lawyer is absconding.

According to Delhi Police Special Cell sources, a team went to search Nikita Jacob's house on February 11. Since the team arrived at activist Nikita Jacob’s home around evening, officials said they could not question her.

The activist-lawyer, however, signed documents, saying she will join the investigation but went underground after the special cell’s visit to her house, Delhi Police sources claimed.

Nikita Jacob moves Bombay HC

Nikita Jacob has moved the Bombay High Court for interim protection against the police action. The matter will come up for hearing on Tuesday (Feb 16).

Contrary to police claims, Nikita Jacob mentioned in documents attached in her application before the HC that a team arrived to search her house on February 11. The cops questioned Nikita Jacob for over 13 hours, recorded her statement and seized hard disk, pen drives from her house, the plea added.

Anticipating arrest, Nikita Jacob moved the Bombay HC on February 12.

The warrant against activist Shantanu was also issued in connection with the Delhi Police probe in the toolkit case.

Crackdown on activists in 'toolkit' case

The warrant against Disha Ravi has come after her arrest triggered massive outrage with politicians condemning the police action and demanding an immediate release of the climate activist.

The Delhi Police claimed that Disha Ravi was an editor of the ‘toolkit Google doc’ and ‘key conspirator’ in the document's formulation and dissemination.

Police alleged that Disha Ravi and others "collaborated with pro-Khalistani Poetic Justice Foundation to spread disaffection against the Indian State."

"She was the one who shared the toolkit doc with Greta Thunberg," the Delhi Police claimed in a tweet.

What is the toolkit case?

Greta Thunberg, a teen climate activist, had shared the toolkit to lend her support to the farmers' agitation against the three farm reform laws. In the document, various urgent actions, including creating a Twitter storm and protesting outside Indian embassies, were listed which were needed to be taken to support the farmers' protest.

The toolkit was cited by some critics as a "proof" of her conspiracy to fuel protests in India.

Disha Ravi was picked up from her house for questioning and later arrested, making it the first arrest in connection with ‘toolkit case’.

"In connection with a case regarding the investigation into the criminal conspiracy related to the toolkit document, Disha Ravi has been arrested from Bengaluru.”

"She was one of the editors of the toolkit Google doc and a key conspirator in the document's formulation and dissemination," said Anil Mittal, Additional Public Relations Officer (Delhi Police) in a statement.

She was produced before a Delhi court here on Sunday and remanded to police custody for five days.

Read | Disha Ravi's arrest in toolkit case triggers outrage

Read | 'Toolkit' case: Students hold protest in Bengaluru, climate group demands Disha Ravi's release