Delhi, 7 April (H.S.): The Delhi High Court has adjourned until May 19 a petition from activist Medha Patkar challenging her conviction in a defamation case initiated by VK Saxena in 2001. Justice Shalinder Kaur's single-judge Bench noted that the trial court had dismissed Patkar's appeal, requiring her to appear in person. Patkar's counsel argued that after the appeal dismissal, the trial court could not mandate her presence.

The High Court suggested she file an appropriate application regarding her inability to attend in person and directed the trial court to consider it.

Patkar challenged her conviction and sentence from the MM court, which sentenced her to 5 months in prison and a Rs 10 lakh fine for criminal defamation under IPC Section 500. She was granted bail pending appeal.

The case was filed by VK Saxena, now Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, in 2001, over Patkar's press note claiming he was a coward and involved in hawala transactions. The court deemed her statements deliberately malicious, intending to damage Saxena's reputation and incite negative perceptions.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar