Delhi court issues non-bailable warrant against Medha Patekar
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Vishal Singh said, "Instead of appearing before the Court and to comply with the order on sentence dated 08/04/2025, the convict is absent and deliberately failed to comply with the order on sentence and to avail of the benefit of probation subject to furnishing of the compensation amount".
The court further said, "The intention of convict Medha Patkar is apparent that she is deliberately violating the Court order; she is avoiding to appear before the Court and also avoiding to accept the terms of sentence passed against her. There is no order of suspension of sentence passed by this Court on 08/04/2025".
"The Court is left with no option than to enforce the production of convict Medha Patkar through coercive order. Issue NBWs against convict Medha Patkar, through office of Commissioner of Police, Delhi Police, for next date," the court said.
It asked for report regarding the serving of the warrant on May 3, the next date of hearing.
The court said, "On the next date, if the convict fails to comply with the terms of order on sentence dated 08/04/2025, the Court will be constrained to reconsider the benevolent sentence and will have to alter the order on sentence".
An application was filed on behalf of Medha Patkar for adjournment of the case in view of pendency of criminal revision petition filed before the High Court, but the judge dismissed the prayer.
The court said, "The application has no substance; there is no direction in order dated 22/04/2025 of Hon'ble High Court that convict Medha Patkar is not required to comply with order on sentence dated 08/04/2025 passed by this Court. The present application is frivolous and mischievous and is only calculated to hoodwink the Court. The present application is, therefore, dismissed".
On the previous date of hearing, the court said that the evidence proved beyond reasonable doubt that Medha Patkar published the Press Note dated November 24, 2000, carrying imputations on Saxena's character with intent to harm or having reason to believe that the imputations will harm his reputation.
The Judicial Magistrate First Class(JMFC) convicted Patekar in May 2024 and pronounced a five-month imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10 lakh on July 1, 2024, for defaming Saxena.
In default of payment of fine, Patekar was ordered to undergo further simple imprisonment of three months.
The court rejected her request for release on probation of good conduct.
Patekar had filed an appeal against the fine and imprisonment order before the Sessions Court UNI XC SSP
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