A few hours after her arrest, a Delhi court on Friday directed the release of social activist Medha Patkar, two days after a court issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against her for not furnishing probation bonds in a 24-year-old defamation case moved against her by Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) V K Saxena.
“I only request to be released, so I can fulfill the conditions (of fulfilling probation bonds),” said Medha Patkar’s counsel appearing before Additional Sessions Judge Vipin Kharb of Saket Court. “You were given time till May 3 according to the Court order?” asked the court.
“NBW has been executed. I’m not arguing with that. The probation order still stands true as we stand before the court. I will furnish probation bonds today. I’ve been picked up on my way to the court,” argued Patkar’s counsel.
Allowing them to furnish bail bonds, the court directed Patkar’s release. The activist was produced before the judge at 12:30 pm. LG Saxena’s advocate Gajinder Kumar also appeared before the court.
A team of police officers reached her residence in the morning and took her in custody. “We have executed the NBW and Medha Patkar has been arrested,” said Ravi Kumar Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), South East.
“On the next date, if the convict fails to comply with the terms of order on sentence dated 08/04/2025 (furnishing probation bonds in person), the court will be constrained to reconsider the benevolent sentence and will have to alter the order on sentence,” Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Vishal Singh of Saket Court had said in his order dated April 23.
On April 8, ASJ Singh had granted the activist a one-year probation in the case, noting that Patkar, the leader of Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), had received awards for her work and that the offence was not grave enough to warrant imprisonment. She had been directed to furnish probation bonds by April 23.
Earlier, the court had dismissed Patkar’s appeal against her conviction in the defamation case filed in 2000, where she had allegedly called L-G Saxena – who then headed an NGO in Gujarat, a “coward” and alleged his involvement in hawala transactions.
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On May 24, 2024, a magistrate court had held Patkar’s statements defamatory and sentenced her to a five-month jail term on July 1. However, ASJ Singh had suspended the sentence and granted her bail on July 29 last year.
The defamation case stems from a statement issued by Patkar on November 25, 2000. While Saxena’s NGO had actively supported the Sardar Sarovar Project of the Gujarat government, the NBA was leading a movement in opposition. In the press statement, Patkar had alleged that Saxena, who was then the president of NGO National Council of Civil Liberties, was supporting the NBA in secrecy. She alleged that he had given a cheque to NBA and it bounced.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
