Delhi court suspends imprisonment of activist Medha Patkar in 23-year-old defamation case

A Delhi court has suspended the five-month prison sentence imposed on prominent activist Medha Patkar, following a defamation conviction in a case dating back 23 years.

The decision to suspend the sentence was made by Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Singh, who also granted Patkar bail and set the bail bond at Rs 25,000. This move allows Patkar to appeal the judgment delivered on May 24 by Judicial Magistrate Raghav Sharma.

The case stems from a 2000 advertisement published by Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, targeting Patkar’s Narmada Bachao Andolan, which opposed the construction of dams on the Narmada River.

Patkar subsequently issued a press notice critical of Saxena, leading to a defamation suit filed against her in Ahmedabad in 2001. The case was later transferred to Delhi by the Supreme Court.

In sentencing Patkar, the court highlighted the severity of the charges, noting that her criticisms of Saxena's patriotism and character were deemed particularly damaging in the public eye. The court asserted that such allegations could significantly harm an individual's public reputation and social standing.

Patkar’s defence argued that there was insufficient evidence to prove that the press notice was actually sent by her. They contended that the email cited as evidence could have been easily fabricated. Additionally, the email in question was not presented in court, which could impact the case's outcome.