Delhi Court To Hear Nikita Jacob's Plea For Anticipatory Bail In Toolkit Case On March 9

A Delhi Court on Tuesday adjourned hearing in the anticipatory bail application filed by Nikita Jacob, in relation to the farmers protest toolkit FIR.

Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana adjourned the hearing after noting the submissions made by the Additional Public Prosecutor, Irfan Ahmed that time was needed to file reply in the matter.

Senior Advocate Rebecca John appeared on behalf of accused Nikita Jacob. 

"My bail ends on the 10th. I don't want all these matters to be heard together. It will create an unnecessary overlap." John submitted before the Court.

After recording the submissions, the judge adjourned the matter till 9th March 2021.

Nikita Jacob was granted three weeks transit anticipatory bail from by the Bombay High Court on 17th February 2021.

Senior Advocate Mihir Desai appearing for Jacob in the High Court had argued that Niktia is a young practicising lawyer for the past 7 years and an environmental enthusiast who knows her duties. Moreover, Desai argued that the said "toolkit" was allegedly prepared by a number of people and that it does not talk about violence in any manner.

While Shantanu Muluk's anticipatory bail application will be heard by Judge Dharmender Rana on 9th March, the Court granted him interim protection ensuring that no coercive action is taken against him by the Delhi Police.

Disha Ravi, the first accused in the toolkit case, was granted bail by the same judge after observing "considering scanty and sketchy evidence on record, I do not find any palpable reason to deny bail."

"In my considered opinion creation of a WhatsApp group or being editor of an innocuous Toolkit is not an offence. Further, since the link with the said toolkit or PJF has not been found to be objectionable, mere deletion of the WhatsApp chat to destroy the evidence linking her with the toolkit and PJF also becomes meaningless. Further, it is rightly pointed out by Ld Defence Counsel that the protest march was duly permitted by the Delhi police therefore there is nothing wrong in co-accused Shantanu reaching Delhi to attend the protest march. Still further, the attempt to conceal her identity seems to be nothing more than an anxious effort to stay away from unnecessary controversies" The order said.

Moreover, the judge went ahead to observe that "The perusal of the said 'Toolkit' reveals that any call for any kind of violence is conspicuously absent. In my considered opinion, Citizens are conscience keepers of government in any democratic Nation. They cannot be put behind the bars simply because they choose to disagree with the State policies".