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On Friday, the Delhi Police arrested activist Medha Patkar after the Saket court in Delhi issued a non-bailable warrant against her on 23 April 2025.
The authorities are likely to present Patkar before the court today.
On 23 April, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Vishal Singh issued the non-bailable warrant, instructing the Commissioner of Police to enforce its execution.
In a statement on Wednesday, ASJ Vishal Singh ordered, “Issue NBWs against convict Medha Patkar, through the office of the Commissioner of Police, for the next date.”
The court has scheduled a report on the NBW and further proceedings for 3 May.
Patkar’s legal representatives, Advocate Gajinder Kumar and Kiran Jai, appeared for the case on behalf of VK Saxena, the complainant.
In 2024, the court convicted Patkar in a defamation case that VK Saxena, the then Delhi Lieutenant Governor, filed in 2000.
The court sentenced her but released her on probation, instructing her to deposit the compensation amount and furnish a probation bond.
However, the officials arrested her on Friday for failing to meet these conditions.
Court’s Observations On Patkar’s Non-Compliance
The court observed, “Instead of appearing before the court and complying with the order on sentence of 8 April 2025, the convict is absent and deliberately failed to comply with the order on sentence and to avail the benefit of probation subject to furnishing of compensation amount.”
The court further stressed that Patkar’s non-appearance and disregard for the sentence were intentional.
ASJ Vishal Singh noted, “The intention of convicting Medha Patkar is apparent, that she is deliberately violating the court order, she is avoiding appearing before the court and also avoiding accepting the terms of the sentence passed against her. There is no order of suspension of sentence passed by this court on 8 April 2025.”
“This court is left with no option but to enforce the production of convict Medha Patkar through coercive order,” he further added.
The court also warned that if Patkar continues to fail to comply with the sentence, it will reconsider her sentence, potentially altering it.
The court rejected an application for adjournment, citing an ongoing appeal in the High Court.
ASJ Vishal Singh dismissed the application, calling it ‘frivolous and mischievous’, designed to deceive the court.
On 8 April 2025, the appellate court upheld Patkar’s conviction and granted her probation for good conduct for one year.
Despite this, she failed to comply with the court’s instructions, resulting in her arrest.
In July 2024, a Magistrate’s court convicted Patkar and sentenced her to three months’ imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 10 lakh in compensation to VK Saxena.
However, the court granted her bail to challenge the decision in a higher court.
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