[Farmers Protests] "Hounded by media, fake news:" Nikita Jacob moves Bombay High Court for transit bail in connection with toolkit FIR

Lawyer and activist Nikita Jacob has moved an application before the Bombay High Court apprehending arrest pursuant to a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Delhi Police against unknown persons in connection with the “toolkit” related to farmers protests..Jacob has sought transit anticipatory bail for a period of 4 weeks and protection from any coercive action pending the present application..Jacob has submitted that under the guise of investigation she might be arrested in a false and frivolous case even though she has not committed any crime..The plea was moved before Justice PD Naik and has been kept for hearing on Tuesday. .Jacob's plea states that she has no religious, political or financial motive for researching or editing or circulating communication packs/toolkits for raising awareness, let alone to incite violence, riots or cause other physical harms..Jacob has also alleged in her application that some trollers and bots are circulating her personal information, email-ids, phone numbers, social media handles and pictures on social media.."The said accounts have been circulating the same anonymously and has been picked by fact less/ untrustworthy and unethical news channels who have been violating the applicant's (Jacob) privacy and dissecting her personal information whilst also alleging absolute lies to incite hate and violence against the applicant by claiming that the Applicant has ties with political parties like AAP," the plea states..Jacob has claimed that she found out from a social media account by the name Legal Rights Observatory that a complaint was filed with the Delhi Police seeking to "pin the blame" for the violence on January 26, 2021 upon the applicant as well..She was hounded by media channels like Times Now, ABP News and other obscure media houses who had reached her house the very next day and were sending applicant messages and calls based on the alleged fake news, it has been alleged. .Further, on February 11, 2021, the Cyber Cell Unit of Delhi accompanied by the Mumbai Police had come to her house with a search warrant and seized personal documents and electronic gadgets from her house which had confidential information protected by the attorney-client privilege..Jacob has raised apprehension that despite co-operating with the investigating machinery, she may be arrested due to political vendetta and media trial. .She has also stated that she is unaware if she is a witness or an accused as her name is nowhere mentioned as far as she is aware in the alleged FIR..She has submitted since the FIR is registered in Delhi and she is a permanent resident of Mumbai, she would be unable to defend herself. ."It is difficult for women to travel to other states and to defend herself/ themselves with the clout of fear of getting arrested in transit on the basis of this frivolous/ false complaint/FIR. It is for this reason that the Applicant has approached this Hon'ble Court to seek transit anticipatory bail so that she can make herself aware of the nature and cause of accusations made against her and defend herself before the appropriate court of law, if necessary," the plea has contended.