Medha Patkar Withdraws Plea Against Conviction In Defamation Case Filed By LG VK Saxena From Delhi High Court

Narmada Bachao Andolan leader and activist Medha Patkar on Friday withdrew from the Delhi High Court her plea against her conviction in the criminal defamation case lodged against her by Vinai Kumar Saxena in 2001.

VK Saxena is presently Delhi's Lieutenant Governor. 

Justice Shalinder Kaur dismissed the plea as withdrawn with the liberty to file a fresh petition, as prayed by Patkar's counsel.

Patkar had challenged the trial court judgment passed on April 02 dismissing her appeal against conviction in the case.

Later, Patkar was released on probation of one year by the trial court. She was also asked to pay Rs. 1 lakh compensation to Saxena.

Early this morning, Patkar has been arrested by the Delhi Police after the trial court yesterday issued non bailable warrants against her, observing that she was absent from the proceedings and deliberately failed to comply with order on sentence.

Patkar was convicted for the offence of criminal defamation under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

Saxena filed the case against Patkar in 2001. He was then the Chief of Ahmedabad-based NGO National Council for Civil Liberties.

Saxena filed the case against Patkar for defaming him in a press note dated November 25, 2000, titled "true face of patriot.”

In the press note, Patkar said “VK Saxena, one who is pained by the Hawala transactions himself came to Malegaon, praised NBA and give a cheque of Rs. 40,000. Lok Samiti naively and promptly sent the receipt and the letter, which shows honesty and good record keeping then anything else. But the cheque could not be encashed and got bounced. On enquiry, the bank reported the account does not exist."

Patkar allegedly said that Saxena was a coward and not a patriot.

While convicting her, the court had had said that Patkar's actions were deliberate and malicious, aimed at tarnishing Saxena's good name and caused substantial harm to his standing and credit.

It had observed that Patkar's statements, calling Saxena a coward and not a patriot, and alleging his involvement in hawala transactions, were not only defamatory per se but also crafted to incite negative perceptions.

Title: Medha Patkar v. VK Saxena  

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 469