Latest news with #NationalCouncilofCivilLiberties
NDTV
25-04-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Delhi Court Orders Medha Patkar's Release After Arrest In Defamation Case
New Delhi: Offering relief to activist Medha Patkar, a Delhi court on Friday ordered her release on furnishing a Probation Bond and payment of Rs one lakh compensation in a defamation case filed in 2001 by Delhi Lt Governor V.K. Saxena. The order came within hours of her arrest at a city railway station. In a related development, Medha Patkar withdrew her plea from the Delhi High Court against the orders of lower courts. A subordinate court ordered her release within hours of being arrested on her arrival at a Delhi railway station at 6 a.m. for being presented before a judge in the Saket district court complex. She was arrested to execute a non-bailable warrant (NDW) issued against her in the defamation case. The court had observed that she was deliberately flouting its sentencing order to submit probation bonds and Rs one lakh as fine in the defamation case. The Delhi court had on Wednesday issued an NBW against Patkar over her non-appearance and non-compliance with the sentence order in connection with the 2001 defamation case linked to developments in Ahmedabad, where Saxena headed an organisation called National Council of Civil Liberties. In 2001, Saxena filed two defamation suits against Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Patkar. One pertained to allegedly derogatory remarks she made during a television interview, while the other involved a press statement. The legal tussle arose from an earlier suit filed by Patkar in 2000, accusing Saxena of publishing defamatory advertisements targeting her and the NBA. In the High Court on Friday, Patkar's counsel sought permission to withdraw her plea against the orders of the sessions court and the trial court, with the liberty to file a fresh petition, which was allowed by Justice Shalinder Kaur. "Counsel for the petitioner seeks to withdraw with liberty to file afresh. The petition is dismissed as withdrawn with liberty as prayed," Justice Kaur said. Earlier, Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Singh of Saket court had observed that instead of appearing before the court to comply with the sentencing of April 8, the 70-year-old social activist had remained absent. On April 8, Patkar was ordered to be released on probation of good conduct for a period of one year, subject to prior deposit of a compensation amount of Rs one lakh, to be released in favour of the complainant (Saxena). The appellate court had modified the order of the trial court, which sentenced Patkar to five months of simple imprisonment, apart from ordering her to pay Rs 10 lakh as compensation to Saxena for the harm caused to his reputation. Advocates Gajinder Kumar, Kiran Jai, Chandra Shekhar, Drishti and Somya Arya, represented Saxena, before the court.
Hans India
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Delhi court orders Medha Patkar's release after arrest in L-G defamation case
New Delhi: Offering relief to activist Medha Patkar, a Delhi court on Friday ordered her release on furnishing a Probation Bond and payment of Rs one lakh compensation in a defamation case filed in 2001 by Delhi Lt Governor V.K. Saxena. The order came within hours of her arrest at a city railway station. In a related development, Patkar withdrew her plea from the Delhi High Court against the orders of lower courts. A subordinate court ordered her release within hours of being arrested on her arrival at a Delhi railway station at 6 a.m. for being presented before a judge in the Saket district court complex. She was arrested to execute a non-bailable warrant (NDW) issued against her in the defamation case. The court had observed that she was deliberately flouting its sentencing order to submit probation bonds and Rs one lakh as fine in the defamation case. The Delhi court had on Wednesday issued an NBW against Patkar over her non-appearance and non-compliance with the sentence order in connection with the 2001 defamation case linked to developments in Ahmedabad, where Saxena headed an organisation called National Council of Civil Liberties. In 2001, Saxena filed two defamation suits against Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Patkar. One pertained to allegedly derogatory remarks she made during a television interview, while the other involved a press statement. The legal tussle arose from an earlier suit filed by Patkar in 2000, accusing Saxena of publishing defamatory advertisements targeting her and the NBA. In the High Court on Friday, Patkar's counsel sought permission to withdraw her plea against the orders of the sessions court and the trial court, with the liberty to file a fresh petition, which was allowed by Justice Shalinder Kaur. "Counsel for the petitioner seeks to withdraw with liberty to file afresh. The petition is dismissed as withdrawn with liberty as prayed," Justice Kaur said. Earlier, Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Singh of Saket court had observed that instead of appearing before the court to comply with the sentencing of April 8, the 70-year-old social activist had remained absent. On April 8, Patkar was ordered to be released on probation of good conduct for a period of one year, subject to prior deposit of a compensation amount of Rs one lakh, to be released in favour of the complainant (Saxena). The appellate court had modified the order of the trial court, which sentenced Patkar to five months of simple imprisonment, apart from ordering her to pay Rs 10 lakh as compensation to Saxena for the harm caused to his reputation. Advocates Gajinder Kumar, Kiran Jai, Chandra Shekhar, Drishti and Somya Arya, represented Saxena, before the court.
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Business Standard
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Medha Patkar arrested in 24-yr-old defamation case filed by Delhi LG Saxena
Veteran social activist Medha Patkar was arrested by the Delhi Police on Friday for failing to furnish probation bonds in connection with a 24-year-old defamation case filed against her by Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena. The arrest follows a non-bailable warrant issued on Wednesday by a Delhi court after Patkar failed to appear before it or comply with earlier directions to submit a probation bond and pay a fine of ₹1 lakh. The case, dating back to the year 2000, was filed by Saxena during his tenure as the president of the National Council of Civil Liberties, a Gujarat-based NGO. Saxena alleged that Patkar defamed him through a press release issued on November 24, 2000. Warrant issued after Patkar failed to meet court directives Earlier this month, Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Singh had convicted the 70-year-old activist and granted her probation on the condition of good conduct, paired with a ₹1 lakh fine. However, her absence from Wednesday's proceedings and failure to meet the court's directives led to the issuance of the warrant. Saxena's lawyer, Gajinder Kumar, accused Patkar of deliberately evading legal responsibilities. The court also labelled her adjournment plea as 'mischievous and frivolous', and warned that it may revisit her sentence if she fails to comply by the next hearing on May 3. What is the defamation case about? The original defamation complaint stemmed from Patkar's statements in which she allegedly called Saxena a 'coward' and accused him of involvement in hawala transactions and betraying Gujarat's people to foreign interests. In May last year, a magistrate ruled that her remarks were defamatory and calculated to damage Saxena's public image. Who is Medha Patkar? Patkar, a long-time leader of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), has been a prominent voice against large-scale development projects like the Sardar Sarovar Dam, which she argues displace thousands of tribal villagers and threaten vast tracts of forest and farmland. Known for her non-violent resistance, Patkar gained recognition for enduring arrests, beatings, and extended hunger strikes over the decades in her campaign against forced displacement and environmental degradation. [With agency inputs]
New Indian Express
25-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Activist Medha Patkar arrested in 24-year-old defamation case filed by Delhi L-G Saxena
NEW DELHI: Delhi Police arrested Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar on Friday after a non-bailable warrant was issued against her in connection with a 23-year-old defamation case filed by Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena. The case, dating back to 2000, arose from a press release Patkar issued on November 24, 2000, when Saxena led the National Council of Civil Liberties. In it, she reportedly labelled him a "coward", accused him of being involved in hawala transactions, and alleged that he was 'mortgaging' the people and resources of Gujarat to foreign interests. A magisterial court last year ruled that these statements were defamatory and intended to provoke negative public sentiment. Last year, on May 24, the court found her guilty of defamation. It concluded that her comments constituted a direct assault on Mr Saxena's personal integrity and his role in public service. Following arguments on sentencing, which concluded on May 30, 2024, the court reserved its judgment on June 7. On July 1, Patkar was sentenced to five months' simple imprisonment. However, she later secured probation of good conduct, with a condition to deposit a fine of Rs 1 lakh. The sessions court, under Judge Vishal Singh of Saket Court, granted this leniency on April 8, 2025. Despite this concession, Patkar failed to appear in court on April 23 for the formal furnishing of probation bonds and payment of the fine. Her absence, combined with non-compliance, led the court to issue a non-bailable warrant through the Commissioner of Delhi Police. "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," read the court order. Judge Singh further noted that 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," read the order.
New Indian Express
25-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Activist Medha Patkar arrested in 23-year-old defamation case filed by Delhi L-G Saxena
Delhi Police on Friday arrested Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar after a non-bailable warrant was issued against her by a local court in a 23-year-old defamation case filed by Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena. The case, initiated by Saxena in 2000 when he led the National Council of Civil Liberties, stems from a press release issued by Patkar on November 24 that year. In it, she labelled him a "coward", accused him of being involved in hawala transactions, and alleged that he was 'mortgaging' the people and resources of Gujarat to foreign interests. These statements, a magisterial court ruled last year, were not only defamatory but designed to provoke negative public sentiment. Last year, on May 24, the court found her guilty of defamation. It concluded that her comments constituted a direct assault on Mr Saxena's personal integrity and his role in public service. Following arguments on sentencing, which concluded on May 30, 2023, the court reserved its judgment on June 7. On July 1, Patkar was sentenced to five months' simple imprisonment. However, she later secured probation of good conduct, with a condition to deposit a fine of Rs 1 lakh. The sessions court, under Judge Vishal Singh of Saket Court, granted this leniency on April 8, 2025. Despite this concession, Patkar failed to appear in court on April 23 for the formal furnishing of probation bonds and payment of the fine. Her absence, combined with non-compliance, led the court to issue a non-bailable warrant through the Commissioner of Delhi Police. "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," read the court order. Judge Singh further noted that 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," read the order.
