Toolkit case: Shantanu Muluk gets protection from arrest till March 9

A Delhi Court on Thursday granted interim protection from arrest to Shantanu Muluk till March 9 in the case of Google 'Toolkit', created to gather online support for the farmers' protest. 

Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana, who has earlier granted bail Bengaluru's climate activist Disha Ravi, posted the application filed by Shantanu for consideration on March 9 as Delhi Police sought time to file a detailed reply in the matter. 

Additional Public Prosecutor Irfan Ahmed sought seven days time for the purpose, contending the investigating agency needs to confront him in view of contradictory replies given by accused persons. 

Appearing for Shantanu, advocate Vrinda Grover asked the court to extend his interim protection. Prosecutor Ahmed said that he has instructions that there will be no coercive action against him. Shantanu was granted interim protection till February 26 by the Bombay High Court. 

Also read — Toolkit case: Delhi cops seized hard disk from house, says Shantanu Muluk's father

In his anticipatory bail plea, Shantanu said he had already joined the investigation on February 22. He has cooperated with the investigation and has handed over all his devices, namely, laptop, iPad and phone to the police, although no seizure memo was prepared, Shantanu said in his bail plea. 

His plea also said that Shantanu was not a political person and he had no religious or political goals apart from exhibiting sympathy for farmers. "Applicant believes in peaceful protest and condemns any and all violence whatsoever. He has been concerned about the environment and that is the only reason he has been working with the Extinction Rebellion movement," the plea said.

He also claimed that he got to know that some 'toolkit' has been shared with environmental activist Greta Thunberg only after he was informed about it by others.On February 3, Swedish climate activist Thunberg had shared this 'toolkit' in a tweet, which she later deleted.