Creationof a WhatsApp group or being editor of an "innocuous Toolkit" is notan offence, a Delhi court said on Tuesday as it granted bail to 22-year-oldclimate activist Disha Ravi in the 'Toolkit' conspiracy case.
Ravifaces charges of conspiracy and sedition in the 'Toolkit' conspiracy caserelated to the farmers' agitation and was arrested from Bengaluru on February13.
TheDelhi Police had contended that the Google document tweeted by Swedish climateactivist Greta Thunberg to back the farmers' protest and then deleted wascreated by Ravi and two other activists -- lawyer Nikita Jacob and activistShantanu Muluk.
"Inmy considered opinion, creation of a WhatsApp group or being editor of aninnocuous Toolkit is not an offence," said Additional Sessions JudgeDharmender Rana.
Itwould be worthwhile to observe that there is nothing on record to suggest thatthe applicant accused subscribed to any secessionist idea, he added.
"Exceptfor a bare assertion, no evidence has been brought to my notice to support thecontention that any violence took place at any of the Indian Embassies pursuantto the sinister designs of the accused and her co-conspirators," the judgesaid, allowing bail considering the "scanty and sketchy evidence onrecord".
"Ido not find any palpable reasons to breach the general rule of bail against a22-year-old young lady, with absolutely blemish free criminal antecedents andhaving firm roots in the society, and send her to jail."
Raviis already reported to have been interrogated in police custody for almostabout five days and placing any further restraint upon her liberty on the basisof general and omnibus accusation would be neither logical nor legal, theAdditional Sessions Judge said.
Thecourt further noted that no specific article, sought to be recovered from thepossession of the accused, has been brought to notice. The resistance to the bailplea seems to be more of ornamental in nature, the judge added.
Thejudge said that Ravi deserves to be released on bail subject to filing of apersonal bond, and a surety bond in the sum of Rs 1 lakh with two sureties eachin the like amount.
Conditionshave also been levied on her which includes cooperation with the ongoinginvestigations, not leave the country without the permission of the court andnot to cause any obstruction or delay to the probe's progress.