Additional Chief Metropolitan Chief Magistrate Pankaj Sharma has remanded Disha Ravi to one more day of Police custody in relation with the toolkit FIR against her, as per some media reports. She has been booked for serious offences like sedition and criminal conspiracy under the gar of supporting the farmers’ protests.
Bar & Bench reported that seeking a five-day extension of the climate activist’s police custody, the Public Prosecutor argued that during her interrogation, she had shifted the burden on to other accused- Nikita Jacob and Shantanu Muluk. The Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that there was a need to confront Disha Ravi with the co-accused Jacob and Muluk.
The Prosecutor also reportedly argued that “there is no set formula for grant of bail and each case has to be seen on its own merit. Police custody is not punishment. 14 days of Police custody is our right. This may be advantageous to her”.
Prosecutor argues that there is no set formula for grant of bail and each case has to he seen on its own merit.
Police custody is not punishment. 14 days PC is our right. This may be advantageous to her. She’s shifting blame .. : Prosecutor #DishaRavi
— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) February 22, 2021
But Advocate Siddharth Agarwal, appearing for Disha Ravi opposed this prayer by pointing out that they had 5-day police custody in the beginning, which was followed by 3-day judicial custody as per their demand.
He argued, “I was arrested on February 13. On February 14, I’m sent to 5 days police custody remand. They are arguing as if it’s her first remand….what is so new today to change the nature of her custody? What is it that can be done only in police custody?”, tweeted Bar & Bench.
A Delhi Police officer who was present in the court also added, “We didn’t make any unnecessary PC (police custody) remand plea. It is not a petty case. It is a transnational case. It is a complex case. Our endeavour is to finish the investigation ASAP (as soon as possible)”.
On February 19, the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Dr. Pankaj Sharma had remanded Disha Ravi to three days police custody. On February 20, Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana of Patiala House Courts put up her bail application for orders, which is expected to be delivered tomorrow, February 23.
Related:
Delhi court reserves order on Disha Ravi’s bail plea
Disha Ravi sent to three days judicial custody by Delhi Court
Media cannot report in a sensationalised manner: Delhi HC on Disha Ravi’s plea