Destructive to carry false anti-national blot: Shantanu moves Bombay HC for transit bail in 'toolkit' case
An NBW was issued against Shantanu by a Delhi court in connection with the 'toolkit' shared by climate activist Greta Thunberg over the farmers' protest.
Activist Shantanu Muluk on Monday moved the Bombay High Court seeking transit anticipatory bail after a non-bailable warrant was issued against him by a Delhi court in connection with the "toolkit" shared by climate activist Greta Thunberg over the farmers' protest.
The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay HC will hear his petition on Tuesday.
In his petition, filed through advocate Satej Jadha, Shantanu sought transit anticipatory bail for a period of four weeks so that he could approach the court concerned in Delhi to apply for pre-arrest bail.
Shantanu stated in the petition that the charges against him "will be destructive for his life and his family to carry a false blot of being an anti-national".
The petition states that Delhi Police has stationed itself in Beed, which is his native town, for the past three days and seized several material without following due process of law. Shantanu alleged that the police team was "exerting undue pressure on his old parents using strong-arm tactics".
"Apparently vendetta has trickled down from politics to the house of a common man making a mockery of the rights and principles enshrined in the Constitution of the India. That such vendetta which is the dark face of authoritarianism and is the real toolkit for devastation of not only of democracy but also basic human rights," the petition states.
Shantanu is one of the founders of XR India, an organisation working for environment. He claimed that XR India had created one platform where information regarding ongoing farmers agitation would be displayed and modes of peaceful protest be given.
Delhi Police officials have claimed that Shantanu joined arrested climate activist Disha Ravi and lawyer Nikita Jacob in creating the toolkit with the aim of "tarnishing the image of India" and collaborated with pro-Khalistani elements.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Cyber) Prem Nath said Shantanu and Nikita attended a Zoom meeting organised by pro-Khalistani group Poetic Justice Foundation to decide the modalities to create the toolkit.
Shantanu's family questioned, house raided by Delhi Police
Meanwhile, Shantanu's family claimed that Delhi Police officials raided their house in Beed in connection with the 'toolkit' case and questioned them for the last two days. The family said officials collected their bank account details as well.
"Based on the information gathered from searches at Nikita's house, separate teams were sent to Maharashtra's Beed district and Bengaluru for investigation regarding Shantanu and Disha Ravi," a Delhi Police official said.
Family members said Shantanu, a native of Beed district, had always been very emotional about farmers' issues and environment conservation. "We are now worried for him. We last spoke with him eight days ago," a family member said. Shantanu's uncle Sachin Muluk claimed attempts were being made to defame the family for no reason.
Shantanu's father told India Today TV that the family had no idea about his whereabouts. "He was working in Aurangabad and had gone to Pune in connection with some work. Now, since two days, Delhi Police has been questioning us. We are cooperating with them. Shantanu works for the environment and was thoughtful about the famers' agitation," he said.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Dadasaheb Munde said the party would support Shantanu and his family. "The Centre should inform how supporting farmers agitation is a crime against the country. We oppose this move against Shantanu’s family," he said.
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