A Delhi court Today (April 23) issued a non-bailable warrant against activist Medha Patkar for failing to follow its orders in a defamation case filed by LG V K Saxena. The case dates back to 2000, involving alleged defamatory remarks made by Patkar.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court today issued a non-bailable warrant against Medha Patkar, a well-known activist and leader of the Narmada Bachao Andolan, for not following the court’s earlier order.
The order had asked her to submit probation bonds and deposit a fine of Rs 1 lakh in a defamation case filed by Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena. This case was filed a long time ago — 23 years back — when Saxena was the head of an NGO in Gujarat.
The case is related to some statements made by Patkar that were found to be defamatory by the court. On April 8, the court had found the 70-year-old Patkar guilty and had given her probation on the condition that she maintains good behavior and pays the Rs 1 lakh fine.
The matter was listed again in court on Wednesday. Patkar was expected to be present and to submit the required probation bonds along with the fine. However, according to Saxena’s lawyer, Advocate Gajinder Kumar, Patkar did not show up and did not follow the court’s instructions.
“In today’s matter, NBW (non bailable warrant) has been issued against Patkar through the Commissioner of Delhi Police, and the court has noted that the application filed by the convict for seeking an adjournment is mischievous and frivolous,”
-said the lawyer.
He also added,
“In case the convict does not comply with its order by the next date of hearing on May 3, then the court will consider altering the benevolent sentence passed on April 8.”
The court is expected to release a detailed order soon.
The defamation case was filed by V K Saxena in the year 2000, on November 24, when he was serving as the president of the National Council of Civil Liberties. The case was based on a press release issued by Medha Patkar that made serious accusations against him.
On May 24 last year, a magisterial court had looked into Patkar’s statements. It noted that she had called Saxena a “coward” and had also accused him of being involved in hawala transactions. The court said these remarks were clearly defamatory and were made in a way to damage his image.
The court further said that accusing the complainant of “mortgaging” the people of Gujarat and their resources to foreign interests was a direct insult to his honesty and public service.
After this, arguments related to what punishment should be given were completed by May 30. The court reserved its decision on the sentence on June 7.
Later, on July 1, the court sentenced Medha Patkar to five months of simple imprisonment. However, she then appealed this judgment in a higher sessions court.
Now, since she has not followed the latest court directions, the situation may become more serious for her.
The next hearing is scheduled for May 3, and if she does not comply by then, the court may consider taking stricter action.
YESTERDAY IN DELHI HIGH COURT
The Delhi High Court Yesterday (April 22) told social activist Medha Patkar to go to the sessions court first if she wants more time to deposit a fine of Rs 1 lakh. This fine was given to her in a defamation case filed by Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) V.K. Saxena.
The case was filed 23 years ago when Saxena was working with an NGO in Gujarat.
Earlier, the sessions court had found 70-year-old Medha Patkar guilty of defamation. But on April 8, the same court decided not to send her to jail and instead released her on “probation of good conduct”. However, the court added a condition – she must pay a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
ALSO READ: Medha Patkar Won’t Be Jailed For Defaming Delhi LG VK Saxena: Saket Court
Probation means that the person who is found guilty does not go to jail immediately. Instead, they are released with a condition to behave properly for a certain time. If they do anything wrong again, they may be sent to jail.
In the Delhi High Court, Justice Shalinder Kaur said she would not consider Patkar’s request to stop the sentence execution or delay the fine payment. So Patkar’s lawyer said that they would file the same request in the sessions court.
“You first follow the trial court order and then I will consider your plea. Don’t come to the court on the last day,”
-said Justice Kaur when Patkar’s lawyer informed the judge that the sessions court would look into the matter on Wednesday.
ALSO READ: Delhi Court Upholds Medha Patkar’s Jail Term & Rs 10 Lakh Fine for Defaming LG VK Saxena
On that day, Patkar has to give the probation bond and pay the amount.
The High Court then accepted the lawyer’s submission and said that the trial court should handle the matter legally. It also kept the next hearing for May 19. That day is already fixed to hear Patkar’s appeal against the April 2 sessions court decision that upheld her conviction, which was earlier given by a magisterial court.
According to the order by the magisterial court dated July 1, 2024, Patkar – who is the leader of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) – was found guilty under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (defamation). She was sentenced to five months of simple imprisonment and was also asked to pay a fine of Rs 10 lakh.
But on April 8, 2025, in a major relief, the sessions court released her on “probation of good conduct” in the same defamation case.
The sessions court also said it was “modifying” the previous order given by the magistrate, where Patkar was sentenced to five months in jail. Now, she only had to pay Rs 1 lakh as compensation. This amount would be given to the complainant, V.K. Saxena. The court added that this compensation would be recovered as fine, as per law.
The court also stated,
“On deposit of compensation amount, convict or appellant Medha Patkar shall furnish a probation bond of Rs 25,000 with one surety of like amount for an operative period of one year from the date of furnishing the probation bond.”
This defamation case was filed by Saxena long ago, in 2000, when he was the president of the National Council of Civil Liberties, a Gujarat-based NGO. The case was based on a “defamatory press release” that Patkar issued on November 24, 2000.
ALSO READ: Defamation Case | Medha Patkar Moves Delhi High Court to Challenge Conviction
On May 24, 2024, the magistrate had ruled that Patkar’s statements calling Saxena a “coward” and accusing him of being involved in hawala transactions were clearly defamatory. The court said these remarks were not only offensive but also “crafted to incite negative perceptions” about Saxena.
Further, the magistrate court pointed out that her statement, which accused Saxena of “mortgaging” the people of Gujarat and their resources to foreign interests, was a serious attack on his honesty and public service.
Would You Like Assistance In Drafting A Legal Notice Or Complaint?
CLICK HERE
Click Here to Read Our Reports on Medha Patkar vs V K Saxena
FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES
