Disha Ravi, the 21-year-old poor climate activist, who abstains from having non-vegetarian food, and has founded the ‘Fridays for Future’ campaign in India has ended up miraculously hiring senior advocate Akhil Sibal to represent her in court, and save her from being incarcerated by the demonic Indian state. Akhil Sibal, son of senior Congress leader and Supreme Court advocate Kapil Sibal, is an exorbitant lawyer whose charges for one appearance on behalf of clients usually surpass the annual income of many Indian families. An advocate of such stature has been hired by Disha Ravi, who rest assured, cannot afford the man’s counsel under any normal circumstances.
But then again, coughing up an estimated 5 to 7 lakh rupees per appearance to Akhil Sibal is only possible under one condition – that of the lawyer waiving his fees in totality and fighting for Disha Ravi pro bono, which is highly unlikely. Who then, is paying for Disha Ravi’s rather flamboyant legal representation? Is it the Khalistani organisations like Poetic Justice Foundation and Sikhs for Justice, or some other vested interest groups who seek to globally defame India and destabilise the Modi government?
Soon after getting hold of the expensive lawyer, Disha Ravi petitioned the Delhi High Court claiming that her arrest on February 13 was “wholly unlawfully and without basis”. Disha alleged a “media trial” was being conducted against her and said she was being “viscerally attacked” by police and several media houses. Akhil Sibal argued on her behalf that police had seized Disha’s phone and was behind the leakage of information. The Delhi Police, however, Thursday emphatically denied leaking any information to the media.
According to Ravi, who has been caught red-handed conspiring against the nation, the police pre-judged her guilt and in the present circumstances, according to her, it was “highly likely” that the public will perceive the news items “as being conclusive as to the guilt of the petitioner”. To the dismay of Ravi, who has been charged with sedition, the Delhi HC bench refused to restrain media channels from reporting on the case. It merely cautioned the NBA and editors of news channels to exercise caution while reporting on Ravi and the case around her.
Who, however, is paying for Disha Ravi’s legal counsel remains the fundamental question. Akhil Sibal must come on record and state whether he is fighting her case pro bono. If not, a separate investigation must be launched by relevant authorities into the sources of money which are helping the “climate activist” shell out large sums of money for her lawyer.