New Delhi, May 3 (H.S.): The Saket Court in Delhi has postponed the hearing in the case of one lakh rupee fine against Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar, who was convicted in a criminal defamation case filed by Delhi's Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Singh has ordered that the next hearing be held on May 27.

During the hearing, the court was informed that a challenge has been filed in the Delhi High Court against the order of the Sessions Court, which currently has stayed the sentence, and the next hearing in the High Court is scheduled for May 20. Following this, the court ordered the next hearing in the case to be on May 27. Today, Medha Patkar appeared in court via video conferencing.

Prior to this, on April 25, the court granted Medha Patkar bail. On April 23, the Sessions Court at Saket had issued a non-bailable warrant against Medha Patkar for failing to pay the one lakh rupee fine. During the hearing on April 23, the lawyer representing VK Saxena stated that Medha Patkar had neither paid the fine nor appeared in court. Consequently, the court ordered the issuance of a non-bailable warrant against Medha Patkar.

On April 8, the Sessions Court had granted relief to Medha Patkar, who was convicted in the criminal defamation case filed by Delhi's Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, by imposing a one-year probation instead of the three-month jail sentence awarded by the Magistrate Court. This means that Medha Patkar must remain on probation for one year instead of serving time in jail. The court allowed Medha Patkar to stay on probation on the condition of undertaking good conduct.

The judicial magistrate sentenced Medha Patkar on July 1, 2024. The court of the judicial magistrate stated that the maximum sentence in this case is two years, but considering Medha Patkar's health, a sentence of five months was given.

Medha Patkar had stated in her defense in court that VK Saxena has been issuing false and defamatory statements since the year 2000. Patkar mentioned that VK Saxena had also physically assaulted her in 2002, after which she filed an FIR in Ahmedabad. Medha stated in court that VK Saxena was working for corporate interests and was against the demands of those protesting the Sardar Sarovar Project.

VK Saxena had filed a criminal defamation case against Medha Patkar in Ahmedabad court in 2001. The trial court in Gujarat took cognizance of the matter. Later, in 2003, the Supreme Court transferred the hearing of this case from Gujarat to the Saket Court in Delhi. Medha Patkar, asserting her innocence, expressed her willingness to face trial in 2011. When VK Saxena filed the case in Ahmedabad, he was the chairman of the National Council for Civil Liberties.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar