Delhi Police on Sunday had arrested 21-year-old Disha Ravi on Saturday February 14 from Bengaluru, for editing and distributing the toolkit that was accidentally leaked by Swedish radical activist Greta Thunberg. The toolkit was aimed at building international pressure on the issue of the farmers’ protests, in order to force the government to withdraw the farm laws. A Delhi Magistrate on Sunday remanded her to five days of police custody.
Now, according to news reports, the police have also accessed the WhatsApp chat between the two activists.
On February 4, Special Cell of Delhi Police had registered a case against the creators of the ‘toolkit’ on farmer protests under sections of the Indian Penal Code relating to sedition, criminal conspiracy and promoting hatred among groups namely under Sections 124A, 120A and 153 A of the IPC. A Delhi court has also issued non-bailable warrants against Nikita Jacob and Shantanu, another two accused in the case.
According to reports by News18, Disha Ravi ― to deflect the charges brought against her ― had made several false statements to the Delhi police. However, when confronted with incriminating evidence from her digital devices, including her Whatsapp conversations with Greta Thunberg, Disha admitted to having been in touch with several people involved with the toolkit. Disha had also attempted to conceal details about her having been in contact with the other accused Nikita Jacob, who is believed to be currently on the run from law enforcement.
Investigations by the police also revealed that Disha had expressed her misgivings regarding the consequences of her involvement in the making of the toolkit. She had also voiced her fears of being charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in a WhatsApp conversation with the Swede. After Thunberg had leaked the incriminating document on Twitter, Disha had said, “Can we just not say anything at all for a while. I am going to talk to lawyers.”
Disha Ravi-Greta Thunberg chats accessed.
‘Can we just not say anything at all for a while. I am going talk to lawyers. We can literally get UAPA against us'; Disha to Greta on WhatsApp: Sources. @ShankarNews18 shares more details with @AnushaSoni23. pic.twitter.com/P4pEPGQdRC
— News18 (@CNNnews18) February 15, 2021
Delhi Police are also digging into Disha’s Gmail account to unearth any emails that were exchanged between her and the other accused. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also set to begin their investigation into any possible overseas transactions made by Disha Ravi through her organisation, Fridays for Future (FFF), in the past 5 years. The National Investigative Agency (NIA) is also expected to provide support in the case, given that several links with Khalistani organisations have now surfaced.
Online meeting with Poetic Justice Foundation’s Mo Dhaliwal
As per reports, Disha Ravi and Nikita Jacob had taken part in an online meeting with Poetic Justice Foundation’s Mo Dhaliwal. Dhaliwal is a self-proclaimed ‘proud Khalistani’ residing in Canada. A close friend of Canadian MP Jagmeet Singh, he has been orchestrating several protests in Canada and elsewhere to garner support within the Sikh diaspora for the agitating farmers in India. Nikita and Disha’s meeting with Dhaliwal was to discuss and plan a ‘Twitter storm’ ahead of India’s Republic Day, when the nation witnessed an outbreak of violence by the agitators in the national capital.
In the Zoom meeting, the group of three had formulated a plan to post messages, graphics and videos ahead of Republic Day to spread propaganda against the Indian administration in the backdrop of the farmers’ protests. They had decided to give the issue greater visibility internationally, which is why they contacted celebrities, including Greta Thunberg, Rihanna, Mia Khalifa and others.
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