Delhi HC to Hear Medha Patkar’s Plea in LG Saxena Defamation Case on May 26
The Delhi High Court is expected to hear on May 26 a petition filed by activist Medha Patkar challenging her conviction and sentence in a criminal defamation case filed by Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena.
A bench led by Justice Shalinder Kaur will hear the matter.
The court will also hear a separate plea filed by Patkar challenging the trial court's order, which dismissed her request to examine a new witness in the present defamation case.
Justice Shalinder Kaur had, on May 20, heard arguments presented on behalf of Patkar’s counsel. Her counsel submitted that there is no bar on examining a witness who was not included in the original list of witnesses.
LG V.K. Saxena is being represented by Advocate Gajinder Kumar.
On April 25, the Delhi High Court granted interim relief to Patkar by suspending her sentence after she was arrested for failing to comply with the probation conditions set by the sessions court.
On 23 April, a Delhi Court had issued non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against activist Medha Patkar for failing to appear and comply with the sentencing order passed earlier this month in the criminal defamation.
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Vishal Singh of the Saket Courts observed that Patkar had deliberately failed to comply with the April 8 sentencing order, which had granted her the benefit of probation subject to furnishing compensation.
Patkar was convicted under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code for criminal defamation in a case dating back to 2001. The case was filed by VK Saxena, who was then heading an Ahmedabad-based NGO, alleging that Patkar had made defamatory statements against him in a press note titled "True Face of Patriot."
She was sentenced to five months’ imprisonment and directed to pay Rs.10 lakh as compensation, with the sentence suspended pending appeal. However, she failed to adhere to the Court’s directions for availing the benefit of probation.
It is to be noted that in May 2024, Patkar was held guilty in the defamation case. The Court had held that her statements were “deliberate and malicious,” intended to tarnish Saxena’s reputation. It stated that the defamatory comments were not only per se harmful but were also crafted to incite negative public perception and cause substantial damage to Saxena’s standing.
Case Title: Medha Patkar v. LG VK Saxena