Medha Patkar Gets 5-Month Jail Term in Defamation Case

• By Thetripurapost Desk, Delhi
• Jul 02, 2024
• 261

Saket Court of the country's capital Delhi has sentenced Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar to 5 months in jail in a defamation case. Delhi's Saket Court has also directed to pay compensation of Rs 10 lakh to Medha Patkar in the defamation case filed by the then KVIC Chairman VK Saxena (now LG of Delhi). Medha Patkar will have to pay this compensation to Delhi LG VK Saxena.

However, the Saket court has suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar to challenge the verdict. 

LG VK Saxena's lawyer said that he does not want any compensation, he will give it to the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DLSA). The court said that the complainant will be given compensation, then you can settle it as you wish.

After the sentencing, Medha Patkar said, 'Truth can never be defeated... We did not try to defame anyone, we just do our work... We will challenge the court's decision...' 

A legal battle has been going on between Medha Patkar and VK Saxena since 2000, when Patkar filed a case against him for publishing an advertisement against her and the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA).

Advocates Gajinder Kumar, Kiran Jai, Chandrashekhar, Drishti and Soumya Arya argued on behalf of LG Saxena in the court. Gajinder Kumar told IANS that the court was requested to allocate the compensation amount to the Delhi Legal Services Authority (DLSA). Patkar was convicted by the court on May 24 in a case of criminal defamation under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code. Saxena had filed a case against Patkar in 2001. At that time he was the head of Ahmedabad-based NGO National Council for Civil Liberties. During the last hearing, both sides had presented their arguments on the matter of punishment. Complainant Saxena had demanded maximum punishment for Patkar. He argued that Patkar often disregards the law. Saxena also presented Patkar's criminal history in the court. He told that the Supreme Court has also reprimanded the NBA for false arguments. 

LG Saxena has made several serious allegations against Patkar. Demanding a severe punishment for her, he said that she often disregards the law. He also cited another defamation case of 2006 pending in the court. The complainant also claimed that Patkar does not even care about morality. This is evident from her past conduct and criminal history. Saxena demanded, "Maximum punishment should be given to Patkar to stop her and set an example in the society so that others refrain from getting involved in acts that hinder the development of the country."

The Matter

November 24, 2000: Saxena alleged that Patkar had made derogatory remarks against him on a television channel and issued a defamatory press statement.

January 2010: Patkar requested that the criminal defamation case against her be transferred out of Gujarat.

February 6, 2010: The Supreme Court transferred the hearing of the defamation cases filed by Patkar and Saxena against each other from Ahmedabad, Gujarat to Delhi.

November 1, 2011: Delhi court frames criminal defamation charges against Patkar.
April 25, 2024: The court reserved its decision on Saxena's plea.

May 24, 2024: Delhi court convicts Patkar in criminal defamation case.
May 30: The court heard arguments on sentencing Patkar.

June 7: The court reserved verdict on sentence.

1 July: The court sentenced Patkar to five months' simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh. However, the court suspended the sentence for one month to enable Patkar to approach the appeal court.

The defamation case began in 2000. At that time, Patkar had sued Saxena for publishing those advertisements. Patkar had claimed that these advertisements were derogatory to her and the NBA. In response, Saxena had filed two defamation cases against Patkar. The first, for alleged derogatory remarks about him during a television programme and the second, was related to a press statement issued by Patkar. While convicting Patkar, Magistrate Sharma noted that Patkar had alleged and published that the complainant visited Malegaon, praised the NBA and issued a cheque of Rs 40,000. This cheque came from the Lal Bhai group, which was a coward and anti-national. Magistrate Sharma had noted, "The accused had the intention to harm Saxena's reputation by publishing the above allegation. He believed that such allegation would harm the reputation of the complainant." 

While passing the order for Patkar's punishment, Magistrate Sharma said that reputation is one of the most valuable assets of any person