NEW DELHI (INDIA) – A New Delhi court on Tuesday granted bail to 22-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi, arrested for sedition over making an online toolkit so as to help protesting farmers.
Judge Dharmender Rana said there was no grounds on which to hold Ravi, a founder of the local chapter of Swedish climate crusader Greta Thunberg’s movement, in custody any longer.
Her arrest at home in the city of Bengaluru, from South India, earlier this month invited criticism for trying to suppress dissent.
Police said she was arrested for her alleged involvement in producing and disseminating an action plan, which instigated violence during farmers’ protests in Delhi. Her lawyers said the arrest was illegal and there was nothing seditious in the toolkit.
“Considering the scanty and sketchy evidence on record, I do not find any palpable reason for keeping a 22-year-old in custody,” Rana told a packed courtroom.
Rana gave orders for the granting of bail to Ravi subject to furnishing two sureties of 100,000 Indian rupees ($1,379.96) each.
