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Toolkit case: Bombay HC grants transit anticipatory bail to Shantanu Muluk
The order on a similar plea filed by lawyer-activist Nikita Jacob, in connection with the same case, is likely to be pronounced on Wednesday.
The Aurangabad bench of Bombay High Court on Tuesday granted transit anticipatory bail to Shantanu Muluk, one of the three accused in the Google toolkit case, giving him protection from arrest by the Delhi Police.
Muluk had moved court on Monday, hours after lawyer-activist Nikita Jacob, another accused in the case, too had filed an urgent transit in anticipatory bail plea in the court. The order on her plea is likely to be pronounced on Wednesday.
Climate activist Disha Ravi, the third accused, is the only person to have been arrested in connection with the case thus far. Bengaluru-based Ravi was arrested by the Delhi Police last Saturday and was sent to five-day judicial custody.
Also Read | Disha Ravi can get warm clothes, masks and books in police custody, says Delhi court
Muluk has been named by the police as the ‘owner’ of the toolkit document, while others have been named as ‘editors.’ Ravi and Jacob have also been accused of holding a Zoom call with Mo Dhaliwal, the founder of the pro-Khalistani Poetic Justice Foundation (PJF).
Also Read | Disha Ravi, Nikita Jacob and Shantanu created toolkit, say Delhi Police
Earlier this month, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg had tweeted the toolkit, detailing ways to protest against the three contentious central farm laws, which have triggered massive protests by farmers in Delhi. She deleted the tweet and later uploaded an edited version following which a case was registered by the police.
Thunberg is among a host of international celebrities to have raised their voices on the farmers’ movement. Barbadian pop star Rihanna and American lawyer Meena Harris, the niece of US vice president Kamala Harris, are among those who have spoken out on the issue globally.
