Climate activist Disha Ravi walks outside a court in New Delhi.
The Delhi Police on Saturday informed a city court that Disha Ravi, who is under judicial custody in the toolkit case over farmers protest, was part of Indian chapter of global conspiracy to defame India, create unrest in the garb of farmers' protest, PTI reported.
During the hearing on Ravi's bail plea today, the Delhi Police also informed court that the 'toolkit' conspiracy was a sinister design to defame India and trigger violence, for which Poetic Justice Foundation and banned organisation Sikhs For Justice used climate activist Disha Ravi.
"Poetic Justice Foundation and Sikhs For Justice in order to hide their involvement, used Disha Ravi as a front to carry out nefarious activity," Additional Solicitor General SV Raju told the court and said that these organisations are connected to the Khalistani movement.
Delhi Police submits documents in sealed envelope to court
The Delhi Police presented some documents in a sealed envelope to the court. The police also informed the court that Mo Dhaliwal, the founder of the Canada-based Poetic Justice Foundation (PJF) has created a page in support for the Khalistan movement. The foundation also used the farmers' movement to defame India's image.
Delhi Police on zoom meetings, Mo Dhaliwal, evidence against Disha Ravi
The Delhi Police in the court said that zoom meetings were conducted on January 17, 18 while the toolkit was prepared on 23. The police informed that Mo Dhaliwal, associated with Canada's Poetic Justice Foundation, who were seeking to disrupt the atmosphere in India during farmers' agitation would have been exposed if they had interfered in it directly, therefore, they chose some faces in India.
'#AskIndiaWhy' was also created, however, many things were deleted in panic. Banned outfit Sikh For Justice on January 11 had announced a reward for waiving a Khalistani flag.
In the toolkit, a hyperlink was also shared that was having contents with intentions of damaging India's reputation.
Being involved in anti-national practices is a big crime, said Delhi Police claiming that Disha had access to edit the toolkit. The police also accused Disha of tampering, destroying the evidence.
In the zoom call, there were around 60-70 people including Mo Dhaliwal. The police said they have evidence against Disha. On another accused Shantanu, police said he visited Delhi and stayed here from January 20-27. The police added that they have sent seized digital devices for further investigation.
Disha Ravi faces conspiracy, sedition charges in toolkit case
Ravi, who faces charges of conspiracy and sedition in the 'Toolkit' conspiracy case related to the farmers' agitation, was arrested from Bengaluru on February 13.
The contentions were made during the 3-hour-long hearing on the bail petition of Ravi. Additional Sessions Judge Dharmendra Rana has reserved the order for February 23. READ MORE
"The reality behind the Toolkit is a sinister design to not only defame India but cause violence. This is only a facade and taking advantage of farmer agitation and run an agenda," Raju told the court.
He said that Ravi, along with co-accused Nikita Jacob and Shantanu Muluk wanted to make the farmers agitation international.
"They were in constant touch with PJF owner MO Dhaliwal and Anita Lal and also SFJ. They have same motive and remain in touch with each other. The purpose was to facilitate the Khalistani movement."
ASG Raju said that Disha Ravi was in touch with them and was preparing and sharing the toolkit with those advocating Khalistan. Advocate Sidharth Agrawal, representing the accused, told the court that there is no evidence to show that 'Toolkit' is responsible for the violence.
"Nobody arrested in connection with Red Fort violence has said that he was inspired by Toolkit," Defence tells court. Advocate Siddhartha further told the court that there is no evidence to link Ravi with Sikhs For Justice, a banned organisation.
Ravi, currently in judicial custody
The 21-year-old activist was sent to three days judicial custody on Friday, after the police told the court that they will seek her custody later to confront her with co-accused Shantanu Mukul, who will join the probe on February 22.
The Delhi Police have contended that the Google document tweeted by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg to back the farmers' protest and then deleted, was created by Ravi and two other activists -- Nikita Jacob and Shantanu Muluk.
ALSO READ | Greta Thunberg now tweets in support of Disha Ravi, arrested in toolkit case
A 'toolkit' is a series of guidelines suggesting how a particular aim can be achieved. Toolkits chart out plans of action explaining topics at hand and offers suggestions that could be followed to achieve particular goals.
On February 14, the Delhi Police took to microblogging website Twitter to elaborate on the case. It wrote, "Disha Ravi, arrested by Delhi Police, is an Editor of the Toolkit Google Doc and key conspirator in document's formulation and dissemination."
She started WhatsApp Group and collaborated to make the Toolkit document, the police said, adding that she worked closely with them to draft it.
"In this process, they all 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 police wrote on Twitter.
Later, she allegedly asked Thunberg to remove the main document after its incriminating details accidentally got into public domain, the police added.
(With inputs from agencies)
ALSO READ | Toolkit case: Delhi court reserves order on Disha Ravi's bail plea for Tuesday
