Toolkit: Warrant against two activists

Vinayak Padmadeo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 15

The Delhi Police on Monday secured non-bailable warrants against two activists — Mumbai lawyer Nikita Jacob and Beed engineer Shantanu Muluk — for allegedly aiding the creation of a controversial toolkit which climate campaigner Greta Thunberg had shared on Twitter. Both accused are reportedly absconding.

Edit: The arrest of Disha Ravi

Laptops seized; Nikita moves High Court

• On Feb 11, search was conducted at Nikita’s Mumbai residence in her absence
• Two laptops and a phone were seized and incriminating evidence retrieved, say cops
• Based on evidence, teams were sent to Maharashtra’s Beed and Bengaluru to nab Shantanu and Disha

What cops claim

• All three accused — Disha Ravi, Nikita Jacob and Shantanu Muluk — collaborated to draft the toolkit
• They acted at the behest of pro-Khalistani group Poetic Justice Foundation (PJF)
• Canada-based Puneet connected them with PJF; they held zoom meet on Jan 11
• Google document ‘Global Day of Action, Jan 26’ was created after the meet
• Police are also probing ISI link through a man called Peter Friedrich whose name figures in the document

The NBW against the duo came a day after Delhi cops took Bengaluru-based climate activist Disha Ravi (22) into custody, triggering a social media storm. After Thunberg shared the toolkit professing support for the agitating farmers, the Delhi Police lodged an FIR for sedition and criminal conspiracy against “creators of the toolkit”. The police have all along alleged that the toolkit was created in collaboration with Khalistani groups.

Nikita Jacob, who has absconded, according to the police, approached the Bombay High Court, seeking protection against her impending arrest. The HC will hear her plea tomorrow even as her lawyers said she had been cooperating and there was no reason for the NBW.

The Delhi Police, however, says all three accused, including Disha, were acting at the behest of pro-Khalistani group Poetic Justice Foundation (PJF), headed by one MO Dhaliwal.

Delhi Police Joint Commissioner (cyber cell) Prem Nath today said a Canada-based woman named Puneet connected Nikita, Disha and Shantanu with the PJF and they held a zoom meeting on January 11.

Nath said Google document “Global Farmer Strike” and “Global Day of Action, January 26” was created after the meeting.

“On February 4, we came across a Google document toolkit. We found it was created by PJF,” Nath said, adding that one portion of the document mentioned action points and prior actions — digital strike through hashtags on January 26, tweet storm from January 23 onwards and physical action on January 26, the day Indian farmers were to hold a tractor rally in the Capital.

Shantanu, through his email account, was the owner of the toolkit, Nath said.

Delhi cops said a search was conducted at Nikita’s Mumbai residence in her absence and two laptops and a phone were seized. “Incriminating evidence has been retrieved,” cops said.

“Nikita, Shantanu and Disha collaborated to draft the toolkit. Based on the evidence gathered from Nikita’s devices, teams were sent to Maharashtra’s Beed district and Bengaluru,” Nath said. He rejected allegations that due process was not followed in Disha’s arrest.

The Delhi Police clarified that Disha Ravi was arrested in the presence of her mother and local police, and her lawyer was informed about the arrest.