DCW writes notice to DCP cyber cell on Disha's arrest & alleged flouting of CrPC rules

16-02-2021

According to a recent development, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) took cognizance of the arrest of Disha Ravi, a climate activist. The 21-year-old activist was arrested by the Delhi Police from Bengaluru on February 13 after she supported the ongoing farmers' protests. Media alleged that Ravi was taken to the national capital from Bengaluru by the Delhi Police without any disclosure of her whereabouts to even her parents.

Ravi produced before court without lawyer of her choice
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It was further alleged that Ravi was not presented before a local court for transit remand. It was also alleged that Ravi was produced before a Delhi court without a lawyer of her choice. The DCW wrote, "This is a very serious matter. The Delhi High Court, in a 2019 order stated: "Endeavor should be made to obtain transit demand after producing the arrestee before the nearest Magistrate....unless exigencies of the situation warrant otherwise. "

Violation of Article 22(1)
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The DCW also stated that Article 22(1), which stated that every person arrested has the right to be defended by a "legal practitioner of his choice", was violated by the police. The DCW demanded a copy of the FIR registered by the police along with reasons that prevented the cops from providing her a lawyer of her choice. The police was asked to present the report by February 19. The Delhi Police chief said earlier, "Disha Ravi's arrest has been made in accordance with the law which doesn't differentiate between a 22-year-old or a 50-year-old. " The police said that Disha, Mumbai lawyer Nikita Jacob and Pune engineer Shantanu created the Greta Thunberg toolkit and shared it with others to malign the image of the country.