Toolkit case Disha Ravi and two other wanted activists held Zoom meeting ahead of R-Day violence: Delhi Police
New Delhi/IBNS: Disha Ravi, the 22-year-old activist arrested in the Toolkit case, and two other wanted activists, held a Zoom meeting before the Republic Day to plan a social media buzz related to the tractor rally organised by the protesting farmers, the Delhi Police said on Monday after facing backlash from celebrities and netizens over their legal actions.
After Ravi's arrest, the Delhi Police on Monday issued warrants for two more activists in connection with the toolkit which was shared by climate activist Greta Thunberg in support of the farmers' protests.
Warrants have been issued against activists Nikita Jacob and Shantanu, who face charges which are non-bailable.
Police said the organisation behind the toolkit had contacted Jacob, a lawyer-activist, to organise a "tweet-storm" ahead of the Republic Day protests by the farmers.
Nikita Jacob has approached the Bombay High Court for protection from arrest for four weeks.
According to the Delhi Police, a Canada based woman named Puneet had put Nikita Jacob, Disha Ravi and Shantanu in touch with Poetic Justice Foundation, an organisation with alleged Khalistani links.
They had a zoom meeting on January 11, said the police.
The Delhi Police on Sunday arrested the 22-year-old activist from Bengaluru in connection to the "toolkit" shared by teen climate activist Greta Thunberg and others on Twitter to show support for the ongoing farmers' protest against the Indian government's farm laws.
Ravi is one of the founders of the "Friday for Future" campaign.
It has been alleged that she edited the toolkit and sent it ahead.
In a court, Ravi, who has been accused of being the main conspirator, denied preparing the toolkit.
"I did not make the Toolkit. We wanted to support the farmers. I edited two lines on February 3," she had told the court.
On Monday during the media briefing, the police said that evidence against Disha Ravi was found from her cellphone data.
"Based on information from Disha's phone and the fact that Nikita absconded, we arrested Disha," an officer said.
The police said Disha Ravi, Nikita Jacob and Shantanu Muluk had created Toolkit and shared it with others for editing.
Shantanu Muluk's email account is the owner of the toolkit Google doc, the police added.
On being asked about allegations that Ravi was arrested from Bengaluru without the knowledge of her parents, the police said, "all guidelines were followed."
"Disha was arrested in the presence of her mother, SHO from local police, and a female officer," an officer said.
The entire row started when the Delhi Police lodged an FIR on Feb 4 against the toolkit that was tweeted by Thunberg while she expressed her support to the Indian protesting farmers.
Her tweet followed the violence and chaos that erupted in the national capital during the protesting farmers' tractor rally on Jan 26.
One farmer was killed and more than 100 police personnel were injured during the tractor rally by the farmers, who are protesting against the Centre's agricultural reforms, on the country's Republic Day on Jan 26.
The Delhi Police said the toolkit was found on a social media handle ahead of the violence and indicates a conspiracy behind the chaos on Jan 26.
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