Toolkit case: Shantanu Muluk gets temporary pre-arrest bail

Disha Ravi along with Jacob and Shantanu created the toolkit and shared it with others to tarnish India's image, the Delhi Police had alleged

The Bombay High Court has granted transit bail to Beed-based engineer-activist Shantanu Muluk on Tuesday.

The court has reserved the order vis-a-vis Nikita Jacob and her fate would be known on Wednesday.

Shantanu and Nikita face non-bailable warrants by the Delhi police in connection with the case involving toolkit shared by climate campaigner Greta Thunberg in support of the farmer protests – and they are associated with Bengaluru-based activist Disha Ravi, who is already in police custody.

Also read | Toolkit case: After Disha Ravi's arrest, Delhi Police look for Mumbai lawyer, Pune engineer

While Nikita has moved the Bombay High Court in Mumbai, Shantanu has approached the Aurangabad bench of the court.

According to reports, the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court decided to grant Muluk 10 days' transit bail after hearing the arguments presented by his counsel.

Muluk said in his bail plea that he was only supporting the farmers fighting for their livelihood and that a “vendetta” was being pursued against him.

He alleged that the police have collected a lot of material without following laid-down procedures.

Nikita said that she was being targeted unnecessarily. “The applicant is unable to defend herself as she is a permanent resident of the address in Mumbai and the alleged complaint/FIR is lodged in Delhi and contents of same are not known to the applicant,” said the application made before Justice P D Naik of Bombay High Court. “I will pass the order tomorrow,” said Justice Naik.