Delhi Court Grants Release to Activist Medha Patkar Following Arrest in Defamation Case Against L-G
Click to start listening
Synopsis
A Delhi court has granted the release of activist Medha Patkar, who was arrested in connection with a defamation case initiated by Lt Governor V.K. Saxena in 2001. The court's decision permits her release upon the provision of a probation bond and payment of compensation.
Key Takeaways
- Medha Patkar ordered to be released by Delhi court.
- Release contingent on Probation Bond and Rs one lakh compensation.
- Arrest executed due to a non-bailable warrant.
- Patkar withdrew her plea from the High Court.
- Legal disputes date back to 2001 regarding defamation claims.
New Delhi, April 25 (NationPress) In a significant development for activist Medha Patkar, a Delhi court on Friday mandated her release upon the submission of a Probation Bond and the payment of Rs one lakh as compensation in a defamation lawsuit initiated in 2001 by Delhi Lt Governor V.K. Saxena. This ruling was issued shortly after her arrest at a city railway station.
In a related matter, Patkar withdrew her application from the Delhi High Court challenging the decisions of lower courts.
A subordinate court swiftly ordered her release after her arrest at 6 a.m. as she arrived at a Delhi railway station to be presented before a judge in the Saket district court.
Her arrest was executed to enforce a non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued against her in the defamation case. The court noted that she had intentionally disregarded its sentencing order to provide probation bonds and a Rs one lakh fine.
On Wednesday, the Delhi court had issued a non-bailable warrant due to her failure to appear and comply with the sentencing order related to the defamation case from 2001, which involved developments in Ahmedabad, where Saxena led the National Council of Civil Liberties.
In 2001, Saxena lodged two defamation suits against Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Patkar. One was based on allegedly disparaging comments she made during a television interview, while the other was linked to a press statement.
This legal conflict stemmed from an earlier lawsuit filed by Patkar in 2000, where she accused Saxena of disseminating defamatory advertisements targeting her and the NBA.
In the High Court on Friday, Patkar's attorney requested to withdraw her plea against the orders of the sessions court and trial court while being allowed to file a new petition, a request granted by Justice Shalinder Kaur.
"Counsel for the petitioner seeks to withdraw with liberty to file afresh. The petition is dismissed as withdrawn with liberty as prayed," stated Justice Kaur.
Earlier, Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Singh from Saket court remarked that instead of complying with the April 8 sentencing, the 70-year-old social activist had failed to appear in court.
On April 8, Patkar was ordered to be released on probation for good conduct for one year, contingent upon the prior deposit of a Rs one lakh compensation amount to be awarded to the complainant, Saxena.
The appellate court had revised the trial court's ruling, which had sentenced Patkar to five months of simple imprisonment and mandated a Rs 10 lakh compensation to Saxena for the damage caused to his reputation.
Attorneys Gajinder Kumar, Kiran Jai, Chandra Shekhar, Drishti, and Somya Arya represented Saxena in court.
