Medha Patkar and VK Saxena (Image Source: News 18 Marathi)
In a recent development, a Delhi Court delivered its verdict, convicting activist Medha Patkar in a defamation case brought forth by Delhi LG VK Saxena. The case stemmed from derogatory remarks Patkar made against Saxena on a TV channel and through a defamatory press statement, linked to their longstanding legal feud dating back to 2000.
The legal dispute between Medha Patkar and Vinai Kumar Saxena traces back to Patkar’s lawsuit against Saxena for publishing ads against her and the Narmada Bachao Andolan. At the time, Saxena held a prominent position as the chief of Ahmedabad-based NGO National Council for Civil Liberties. Concurrently, Saxena filed two defamation suits against Patkar over her remarks directed at him.
The defamation suit in question was filed in response to Patkar’s statements in April 2006 during a panel discussion on a news channel. Patkar alleged that Saxena received civil contracts from Gujarat-based Sardar Sarovar Nigam, which was refuted by Saxena.
Following Patkar’s remarks, Sardar Sarovar Nigam Ltd refuted her allegations in a letter to Gujarat Police, asserting that Saxena had neither applied for nor been awarded any civil contracts by the Nigam.
After years of legal proceedings, Metropolitan Magistrate Raghav Sharma found Medha Patkar guilty of criminal defamation. The court had previously framed defamation charges against Patkar in July 2018, when VK Saxena was the Khadi Village and Industries Commission (KVIC) Chairman, stating that a prima facie case had been established against her.
In a prior instance in 2017, the court imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on Patkar for her failure to appear in court hearings. The court had cautioned that her complaint against Saxena would be dismissed if she continued to miss court appearances. The fine was levied after her legal representatives informed the court of her absence, citing her participation in a hunger strike in Madhya Pradesh.
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