Toolkit case: Delhi HC asks Centre to state status of probe against Disha Ravi
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the Centre to inform it about the status of the probe against climate activist Disha Ravi in the FIR over her alleged involvement in sharing a toolkit backing the farmers' protest in 2021.
Justice Prathiba M Singh, while hearing Ravi's plea to restrain police from leaking to the media any probe material in relation to the FIR, asked if the issue pending before the court was "still alive" as "much has lapsed" and asked the Centre to file a status report.
"Let Union of India file a status report in relation to the status of investigation against the petitioner and current position of the same," ordered the court.
Senior counsel Akhil Sibal appeared on behalf of the petitioner and informed that a charge sheet was yet to be filed by the investigation agency and the issue of "taking down" certain posts against her as well as issue of media reporting on her purported statements during custodial investigation still remained.
He also informed that court that while the petitioner is on bail, the issue of constitutional validity of sedition law was also pending before the Supreme Court.
Ravi was arrested by the Delhi Police on February 13, 2021 for allegedly being involved in sharing on social media a "toolkit" related to the farmers' protest against the Centre's now-repealed three agri laws, and was granted bail by a trial court here on February 23, 2021.
The Delhi Police registered the FIR against Ravi under IPC sections 124A (sedition), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) of Indian Penal Code.
In her petition before the high court, she has also sought to restrain the media from publishing the content or extract of any private chats, including those on WhatsApp, between her and third parties.
She has claimed that the police first "leaked investigative material" -- like alleged WhatsApp chats -- the substance and details of which were only in the possession of the investigating agency.
In response, the Delhi Police has said it did not leaked any information to the media in relation to its probe in the FIR against the petitioner and allegation that the information of chats of Ravi has been leaked by the police is "false and factually incorrect".
Ravi, in her plea, has said she is "severely aggrieved and prejudiced by the media trial surrounding her arrest and the ongoing investigation, where she is being viscerally attacked by the respondent 1 (police) and several media houses".
She has claimed that her arrest from Bengaluru by a Cyber Cell team of Delhi Police was "wholly unlawfully and without basis".
She has also contended that in the present circumstances, it was "highly likely" that the general public will perceive the news items "as being conclusive as to the guilt of the petitioner (Ravi)".
The high court had on February 19, 2021 said certain media coverage of investigation into the FIR against Ravi for her alleged involvement in sharing a toolkit backing farmers' protest indicates "sensationalism and prejudicial reporting", but declined to order removal of any such content at that stage.
The issue of removal of content which was already in public domain shall be considered at a later stage, it had said.
The matter would be heard next on September 4.
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Cong demands TN governor's sacking over his 'secularism is European concept' remark
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress Monday slammed as "outrageous and unacceptable" Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi's remark that "secularism is a European concept" and demanded his immediate sacking.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh claimed that Ravi is "only a trial balloon floater" and is echoing what Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to get done.
Ramesh's remarks came after Ravi said secularism is a European concept that evolved after a conflict between the church and the king whereas Bharat is a dharma-centric nation and therefore, it was not part of the Constitution but added during Emergency by "one insecure prime minister".
The Tamil Nadu governor, while addressing an event in the Kanyakumari district on Sunday, said a lot of frauds have been committed against the people of the country and one of those was a wrong interpretation of secularism.
Reacting to the remarks, Ramesh said, "This man, who has taken an oath on the Constitution and who -- inspite of his drumbeating -- remains a Constitutional functionary, should be sacked forthwith. He is a disgrace."
"This is not the first outrageous and unacceptable statement he has made. But he is only a trial balloon floater. He is echoing what the non-biological PM wants to get done," the Congress leader said.
Ravi had also said, "What does secularism mean? Secularism is a European concept, secularism is not a Bharatiya concept."
Decades later, during Emergency (1975-77), "one insecure prime minister," introduced secularism in the Constitution in order to appease some sections of people, the Governor alleged.
Indira Gandhi was the prime minister during Emergency.
Ravi further said that secularism emerged in Europe as there was a fight between the church and the king and in order to end this conflict, which went on for a long time, this concept was evolved.
At the time of Independence, when the Constitution was being drafted, a discussion came up on secularism and the Constituent Assembly rejected it observing that Bharat is a dharma-centric country and there has been no conflict, similar to what was witnessed in Europe, Ravi had claimed.
