'Severely aggrieved by media trial': Disha Ravi moves HC, seeks direction to police not to 'leak' material

Activist Disha Ravi, who was arrested by the Delhi police on Sunday, has moved the Delhi High Court asking for directions to the Delhi government and the Delhi police not to "leak any material in relation to the toolkit FIR", LiveLaw reported.

Ravi also sought action against news channels like India Today, News18 and Times Now, saying they violated the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act. According to Bar and Bench, she asked that they be restrained from "publishing the contents and/or extracts of any alleged private chats (including WhatsApp chats) between her and third parties".

LiveLaw noted that Ravi said she was "severely aggrieved and prejudiced by the media trial surrounding her arrest and the ongoing investigation".

LiveLaw reported: "Ravi has claimed in her petition that she was wholly unlawfully and without basis arrested in Bengaluru allegedly in connection with the toolkit FIR and flown overnight to New Delhi without obtaining transit remand in flagrant violation of her constitutional rights."

The Delhi police arrested Ravi, 22, from Bengaluru for “sharing and editing” a toolkit put out by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg to mobilise support for the ongoing farmer protests in India. On Monday, they issued non-bailable warrants for lawyer-activist Nikita Jacob and a climate activist named Shantanu on similar charges.

Ravi was arrested on charges of sedition, hatching a criminal conspiracy, and promoting enmity. She was remanded to five days in police custody.