New Delhi

In a verdict on Monday, Delhi’s Saket court sentenced Medha Patkar, an activist from the Narmada Bachao Andolan, to 5 months of simple imprisonment in a defamation case filed by Delhi LG VK Saxena. Additionally, the court ordered her to pay Rs. 10 lakh as compensation to the complainant.

Judicial Magistrate Raghav Sharma delivered the sentence, with a provision to suspend it for 30 days to allow Patkar to challenge the ruling. Patkar promptly filed an application seeking suspension of her sentence.

In his sentencing remarks, Magistrate Sharma emphasized the importance of fairness and justice, considering the long legal battle endured by the complainant over 25 years. He reasoned that granting probation to Patkar would undermine the complainant’s efforts to seek justice for the suffering caused by defamatory allegations.

Addressing Patkar’s age and health condition, the court acknowledged these factors but underscored the gravity of her offense. The court noted that Patkar’s baseless accusations, including involvement in illegal transactions and compromising the interests of Gujarat’s people, severely damaged the complainant’s reputation and caused substantial personal and professional hardships.

The court also highlighted the lack of evidence presented by Patkar in her defense during the proceedings. Following the verdict, VK Saxena’s counsel, Advocate Gajinder Kumar, stated their intention to donate the compensation amount to the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DLSA), indicating a focus on community service in the aftermath of the legal dispute.