Disha Ravi’s lawyer mentioned whereas she was in custody, her non-public chats have been leaked to the media.
New Delhi:
The Delhi Police on Thursday instructed the Delhi Excessive Courtroom that it has not leaked any data to the media in relation to its probe within the case in opposition to local weather activist Disha Ravi for her alleged involvement in sharing a toolkit backing the continued farmers’ protest.
The court docket was listening to Ms Ravi’s plea to restrain police from leaking to the media any probe materials in relation to the FIR lodged in opposition to her.
Justice Rekha Palli mentioned maintaining in view that the petition raises an essential query of public significance, it’s listed for arguments on September 27.
Advocate Rajat Nair, representing the Delhi Police, submitted that the leak has not occurred from their finish.
The police, in its response filed by way of advocate Amit Mahajan, mentioned the allegation that the data of chats of Ms Ravi has been leaked by the police is “false and factually incorrect”.
The affidavit, filed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Cell Unit) of Particular Cell Anyesh Roy, mentioned no data or doc forming a part of the case file together with the topic chats have been shared by the police with any media home or particular person besides the data communicated formally by way of press briefing or broadcast, which is a matter of report.
The court docket was knowledgeable by the senior advocate Akhil Sibal, showing for Ms Ravi, that the pleadings within the case are full.
He mentioned whereas Ms Ravi was in custody, her non-public chats have been leaked to the media.
Whereas the police declare it has not leaked it, the media clearly says they bought it from the police, he argued, including that some safety or tips must be thought-about on this regard.
Disha Ravi was arrested by Delhi Police on February 13 for allegedly being concerned in sharing on social media a “toolkit” associated to the continued farmers” protest in opposition to the Centre’s three new farm legal guidelines and was granted bail by a trial court docket on February 23.
In her petition earlier than the excessive court docket, she has additionally sought to restrain the media from publishing the content material or extract of any non-public chats, together with these on WhatsApp, between her and third events.
Ms Ravi, in her plea, has mentioned she is “severely aggrieved and prejudiced by the media trial surrounding her arrest and the continued investigation, the place she is being viscerally attacked by the respondent 1 (police) and several other media homes”.
She has claimed that her arrest from Bengaluru on February 13 by a Cyber Cell group of Delhi Police was “wholly unlawfully and with out foundation”.
She has additionally contended that within the current circumstances, it was “extremely probably” that most people will understand the information objects “as being conclusive as to the guilt of the petitioner (Ravi)”.
She has claimed that the police first “leaked investigative materials” — like alleged WhatsApp chats — the substance and particulars of which have been solely within the possession of the investigating company.
The excessive court docket had on February 19 mentioned sure media protection of investigation into the FIR in opposition to Disha Ravi for her alleged involvement in sharing a toolkit backing farmers’ protest signifies “sensationalism and prejudicial reporting”, however declined to order removing of any such content material at this stage.
The difficulty of removing of content material which was already in public area shall be thought-about at a later stage, it had mentioned.
The excessive court docket, in an earlier order, had requested media homes to make sure that no leaked investigation materials is broadcast because it may have an effect on the probe and directed Delhi Police to abide by its stand on affidavit that it has not leaked nor intends to leak any probe particulars to the press.
The police had earlier additionally positioned an affidavit categorically denying leaking of any data to the media. It additionally assured the court docket that it had no intention of leaking any data to the media.
The Ministry of Data and Broadcasting had mentioned the petition was not maintainable as no grievance was first made to it for taking motion in opposition to any TV channel or media home for any alleged incorrect reporting of the case.
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