On July 29, a Delhi court suspended the sentence given to social activist Medha Patkar in a criminal defamation case initiated by former Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena
The Saket court granted bail to Patkar, requiring a bail bond of ₹25,000 and a surety of the same amount. Additionally, the court issued a notice to the Delhi L-G, requesting his response by September 4, as reported by news agency ANI.
Previously, on July 1, Patkar was sentenced to five months in jail in a 23-year-old defamation case involving Delhi L-G Saxena. The court also ordered her to pay ₹10 lakhs in compensation to Saxena for damaging his reputation.
The sentence was temporarily suspended until August 1 to allow Patkar time to file an appeal. She subsequently challenged the trial court’s July 1 ruling.
The case centers on a press release issued by Patkar in November 2000. In May of this year, the court determined that her remarks calling Saxena—a former president of an NGO in Gujarat—a “coward” and accusing him of involvement in hawala transactions were intended to tarnish his reputation.
Patkar and Saxena have been engaged in a legal battle since 2000, following her lawsuit against him for publishing advertisements against her and the Narmada Bachao Andolan. In 2001, Saxena filed two defamation cases against Patkar for making derogatory comments about him on television and releasing a defamatory press statement.
L-G Saxena’s lawyer previously urged the court to impose the maximum penalty on Patkar, while Patkar’s attorney sought her release on probation due to her age and good behavior.
Patkar was found guilty in a defamation case filed by Saxena in 2001. Arguments regarding her sentencing concluded on May 30, and the court reserved its decision on the sentence’s duration until June 7.
(With inputs from agency)
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