New Delhi: A Delhi court issued a non-bailable warrant against Medha Patkar, leader of the Narmada Bachao Andolan, for failing to comply with its order to submit probation bonds and pay a Rs 1 lakh fine in a defamation case filed by Delhi LG V.K. Saxena.
The case, initiated 23 years ago when Saxena led an NGO in Gujarat, culminated in Patkar being found guilty by Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Singh. She was released on probation for good conduct on April 8, with the condition of paying the fine. However, Patkar did not appear in court on Wednesday nor fulfil the required conditions, prompting legal action. Advocate Gajinder Kumar, representing Saxena, noted her non-compliance with court directives.
"In today's matter, NBW (non-bailable warrant) has been issued against Patkar through the Commissioner of Delhi Police, and the court has noted that the application filed by the convict for seeking an adjournment is mischievous and frivolous," he said.
The lawyer added, "In case the convict does not comply with its order by the next date of hearing on May 3, then the court will consider altering the benevolent sentence passed on April 8." A detailed order is awaited.
V.K. Saxena, as president of the National Council of Civil Liberties, initiated the defamation case against Medha Patkar over a press release she issued on November 24, 2000. In the release, Patkar referred to Saxena as a "coward" and accused him of involvement in hawala transactions. These statements were deemed defamatory and designed to tarnish Saxena's reputation, according to a magisterial court ruling on May 24 of last year.
The court also noted that Patkar's claim that Saxena was "mortgaging" Gujarat's people and resources to foreign interests was a direct affront to his integrity and public service. Following arguments on sentencing, which concluded on May 30, the court reserved its judgement on the sentence until June 7.
On July 1, the court sentenced Patkar to five months of simple imprisonment. She subsequently appealed the decision in a sessions court.
(inputs from PTI)