Delhi court convicts Medha Patkar in defamation case filed by LG VK Saxena

New Delhi: A city court on Friday convicted Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar in a 20-year-old criminal defamation case lodged against her by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena.

Metropolitan Magistrate Raghav Sharma found NBA leader Patkar guilty of criminal defamation, for which she may get a jail term of two years or fine or both as the punishment under the relevant law.

Saxena filed criminal defamation case against Patkar in 2001

Saxena had filed a criminal defamation case against Patkar in 2001. He was at that time the Chief of Ahmedabad-based NGO National Council for Civil Liberties.

Saxena filed the defamation case against Patkar for defaming him in a November 2000 press note with the title “true face of patriot” and calling him a coward and not a patriot.

Patkar and Saxena have been locked in a legal battle since 2000.

Actions of Patkar were deliberate and malicious: Court

The court said that the actions of Patkar were deliberate and malicious and were aimed at tarnishing complainant Saxena’s good name and have indeed caused substantial harm to his standing and credit in the eyes of the public.

“The accused’s statements, calling the complainant a coward, not a patriot, and alleging his involvement in hawala transactions were not only defamatory per se, but also crafted to incite negative perceptions,” the court said.

The court further said, “From the evidence appraised above, it has been proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused published the imputations with the intent and knowledge that they would harm the reputation of the complainant and, therefore, committed an offence punishable under Section 500 of the IPC. She is hereby convicted of the same.”

The court will hear arguments on sentence on May 30.