Activist Medha Patkar Sentenced to 5 Months in Defamation Case Against Delhi LG VK Saxena

New Delhi [India], July 1: Delhi’s Saket court has sentenced Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar to 5 months of simple imprisonment. The court also directed her to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the complainant, Delhi LG VK Saxena, in a defamation case.

Details of the Case

Judicial Magistrate (First class) Raghav Sharma sentenced Medha Patkar but suspended the sentence for 30 days to allow her to challenge the judgement. Patkar has filed an application for the suspension of her sentence.

Magistrate Sharma stated, “The yardstick of justice and fairness requires that the suffering endured by the complainant is taken into account and is reflected in the punishment imposed upon the accused.” He added that releasing Patkar on probation would be contrary to the principle of justice, given the 25-year legal battle faced by Saxena.

Serious Nature of the Offense

The court noted that while Patkar’s age and medical condition were considered, they did not absolve her of the serious nature of her offense. The accusations against Saxena, including involvement in hawala transactions and compromising Gujarat’s interests, were designed to ruin his public image and credibility.

The court emphasized that these defamatory remarks caused Saxena severe personal and professional hardships, forcing him to endure a prolonged legal battle.

Reactions and Next Steps

After the sentencing, Patkar stated, “The truth can never be defeated. We have not tried to defame anyone; we only do our work. We will challenge the court’s judgement.”

Advocate Gajinder Kumar, representing VK Saxena, mentioned that they do not want any compensation and will donate it to the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DLSA). However, the court ruled that the compensation must be given to the complainant, who can then dispose of it as they wish.

Patkar was convicted on May 24 for defaming VK Saxena in a case filed in 2001.