Hours after arrest, Medha Patkar withdraws HC plea against defamation conviction
New Delhi: Social activist Medha Patkar on Friday withdrew her petition in the Delhi High Court challenging a city court's order that upheld her conviction in a 2001 criminal defamation case filed by Delhi lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.
The development came just hours after she was arrested by the Delhi Police, following a non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued by the city court for failing to comply with the conditions required for release on probation.
The case stems from a press release issued by the Narmada Bachao Andolan leader on November 24, 2000, in which she alleged that Saxena, who was the president of non-profit organisation National Council of Civil Liberties at the time, had given a cheque to NBA, which subsequently bounced. Saxena, who was actively involved in ensuring the timely completion of the Sardar Sarovar Project, filed the defamation case on January 18, 2001, alleging that Patkar's press release contained false accusations intended to harm his reputation.
On May 24, 2024, metropolitan magistrate Raghav Sharma convicted Patkar concluding that her actions were deliberate, malicious and aimed at tarnishing Saxena's reputation. On July 1, 2024, judge Sharma sentenced Patkar to undergo five months imprisonment along with ₹10 lakh as fine.
Also read: Activist Medha Patkar arrested in defamation case filed by Delhi L-G
On April 2, sessions judge Vishal Singh had upheld metropolitan magistrate Raghav Sharma's May 2024 order convicting Patkar in the defamation case. On April 8, Singh had granted Patkar probation directing her to deposit ₹1 lakh as compensation and furnish a personal bond of ₹25,000 by April 23.
However on Wednesday, judge Singh issued the NWB, upon her failure to fulfil the conditions, noting that Patkar instead of appearing in court for compliance of the order on sentence, was absent and deliberately failed to comply with the same.
A high court bench of justice Shailender Kaur dismissed Patkar's petition as withdrawn, after the social activist's counsel submitted that his client would file the same afresh by also challenging the order on sentence.
'The counsel for the petitioner submits that he seeks to withdraw the criminal revision petition with liberty to file afresh. In view of the submissions made, the petition is dismissed as withdrawn with liberty as prayed as per law,' the order read.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Economic Times
How fake meat export deal cost Delhi NRI more than $81,000, and the suspect vanished without a trace
A Delhi businessman has been allegedly defrauded of Rs 1.3 crore by an individual posing as a successful meat exporter. The suspect, after gaining trust through fabricated documents, convinced the victim to invest heavily, promising high returns. The suspect later disappeared, prompting a police investigation into the elaborate scheme. The crime branch is currently investigating the case. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads How it began Investment and false promises Suspect goes missing Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Police action A businessman from East Delhi has alleged that he was cheated out of Rs 1.3 crore by a man who pretended to be a successful meat exporter. The Delhi Police crime branch has now launched an investigation into the complainant, a Non-Resident Indian ( NRI ) currently living in east Delhi, told police he met the suspect in June 2023 through a mutual friend. The man claimed to be running a profitable meat export business and showed fake documents to support his claims. Convinced by the fake paperwork, the businessman agreed to support the venture.A few weeks later, the suspect convinced the complainant to invest money, promising high returns by January 2025. Trusting him, the businessman invested large sums, including his father's life savings. The payments, totalling Rs 67.7 lakh, were made via cheques to an account belonging to someone introduced as the suspect's business October and November 2024, the suspect claimed he needed an additional $80,000 (around Rs 69.3 lakh) to handle a shipment issue in Dubai. This money was arranged through the help of a friend in the UAE and handed over to one of the suspect's contacts January 2025, a WhatsApp chat showed the suspect admitting to owing money. But when the complainant began asking for repayment, the suspect avoided contact. He eventually switched off his phone, changed his number, and even vacated the place where he had been living with the the businessman contacted the so-called manager, he was shocked to learn that the person was not part of any business partnership. He revealed that the suspect had asked him to transfer all the funds to his personal account, and the money was never used for any export on the complaint and initial findings, police found enough evidence to file a formal case of cheating. A detailed investigation is now from agencies
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
How fake meat export deal cost Delhi NRI more than $81,000, and the suspect vanished without a trace
A businessman from East Delhi has alleged that he was cheated out of Rs 1.3 crore by a man who pretended to be a successful meat exporter. The Delhi Police crime branch has now launched an investigation into the matter. How it began The complainant, a Non-Resident Indian ( NRI ) currently living in east Delhi, told police he met the suspect in June 2023 through a mutual friend. The man claimed to be running a profitable meat export business and showed fake documents to support his claims. Convinced by the fake paperwork, the businessman agreed to support the venture. Investment and false promises A few weeks later, the suspect convinced the complainant to invest money, promising high returns by January 2025. Trusting him, the businessman invested large sums, including his father's life savings. The payments, totalling Rs 67.7 lakh, were made via cheques to an account belonging to someone introduced as the suspect's business manager. In October and November 2024, the suspect claimed he needed an additional $80,000 (around Rs 69.3 lakh) to handle a shipment issue in Dubai. This money was arranged through the help of a friend in the UAE and handed over to one of the suspect's contacts there. Suspect goes missing In January 2025, a WhatsApp chat showed the suspect admitting to owing money. But when the complainant began asking for repayment, the suspect avoided contact. He eventually switched off his phone, changed his number, and even vacated the place where he had been living with the complainant. Live Events When the businessman contacted the so-called manager, he was shocked to learn that the person was not part of any business partnership. He revealed that the suspect had asked him to transfer all the funds to his personal account, and the money was never used for any export business. Police action Based on the complaint and initial findings, police found enough evidence to file a formal case of cheating. A detailed investigation is now underway. Inputs from agencies
New Indian Express
4 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Encroachers can't claim right to occupy public land during rehab: Delhi High Court
NEW DELHI: A nearly 30-year-old slum cluster in South Delhi's Kalkaji is set for demolition after the Delhi High Court ruled that encroachers cannot indefinitely occupy public land while their rehabilitation claims are pending. The court observed that permitting such occupation would obstruct crucial public works and development projects. The order, delivered on June 6 by Justice Dharmesh Sharma, came while hearing a batch of petitions filed by residents of Bhoomiheen Camp, an informal settlement largely inhabited by migrants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. Around 1,200 people had approached the court seeking a stay on demolition, asking the DDA to maintain status quo and not evict them until they were surveyed and rehabilitated under the 2015 Delhi Slum and JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy. The court, however, dismissed their plea, noting that the petitions were flawed due to improper clubbing of multiple parties and causes of action. It further stated that the petitioners had failed to meet the eligibility conditions under the 2015 policy to qualify for rehabilitation. 'None of the petitioners have any legal right to continue occupying the JJ cluster incessantly, to the detriment of the public at large,' the court said, adding that the right to rehabilitation arises only from policy, not from the Constitution. It also clarified that removal of encroachments and eligibility for rehabilitation are separate processes and pending claims cannot justify delaying demolition. The court allowed the DDA to proceed with demolition as per law and directed that eligible residents be allotted flats under EWS category.
