Delhi’s Saket Court Convicts Activist Medha Patkar in 20-Year-Old Defamation Case

Delhi’s Saket Court has convicted Narmada Bachao Andolan leader and activist Medha Patkar in a criminal contempt case dating back 20 years. Metropolitan Magistrate Raghav Sharma found Patkar guilty under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The hearing on the point of punishment has been adjourned to May 30. The case was initiated by Vinay Kumar Saxena, currently the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, who filed a criminal defamation complaint against Patkar in 2001. At that time, Saxena was the head of the Ahmedabad-based NGO National Council for Civil Liberties.

Background of the Case

Saxena filed the defamation complaint in an Ahmedabad court on November 25, 2000, citing a press note issued by Patkar. The press note, titled “The Real Face of a Patriot,” alleged that Saxena was unhappy with hawala transactions and came to Malegaon, where he praised the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) and issued a check for Rs 40,000. However, the check bounced as the bank account did not exist. Patkar further labeled Saxena as a coward, not a patriot. The court took cognizance of the matter in 2001 and issued a notice to Patkar. Subsequently, the Supreme Court transferred the case to Delhi.

Saket Court’s Judgment

Patkar pleaded not guilty and vowed to disprove the allegations. In his judgment, Magistrate Sharma stated that Patkar’s actions were deliberate and malicious, aimed at damaging Saxena’s reputation. The court noted that Patkar’s statements caused significant harm to Saxena’s image and credibility. The allegations were not only defamatory but also fabricated to incite negative perceptions.

The court highlighted that accusing Saxena of mortgaging the people of Gujarat and their resources to foreign interests was a direct attack on his integrity and public service. Patkar’s statement that Saxena was a “coward and not a patriot” was seen as a direct assault on his personal character and loyalty to the nation. Such accusations, particularly serious in the public sphere where patriotism holds great importance, could cause irreparable damage to a person’s public image and social standing. The court found Patkar’s words inflammatory, intended to humiliate Saxena and diminish his respect in public life.