In a significant legal victory for Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, a Saket court in the national capital has acquitted him in a long-standing defamation case filed by Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) activist Medha Patkar. The ruling brings to an end a 25-year-old battle that originated in Gujarat and was later transferred to Delhi on Supreme Court orders.
Judicial Magistrate First Class Raghav Sharma meticulously reviewed the evidence and concluded that Patkar failed to prove her case beyond reasonable doubt under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code. ‘The complainant has not been able to establish her case against the accused beyond doubt,’ the court observed, granting Saxena a clean chit.
The case stemmed from a 2000 advertisement published by Saxena, then heading the Ahmedabad-based Council for Civil Liberties, criticizing the NBA and specific individuals involved in the movement. The court found no evidence that the ad targeted Patkar personally. ‘A careful reading of the advertisement reveals the criticism was directed at the NBA organization and certain persons, not Medha Patkar,’ the order stated.
This development comes amid a parallel case where Saxena had filed a defamation suit against Patkar. In that instance, Patkar was convicted and sentenced to five months in jail along with a Rs 10 lakh compensation to Saxena. Though her conviction was upheld by the Supreme Court, the sentence was set aside, allowing her bail.
Saxena, who assumed the role of Delhi LG much later, has consistently maintained that his actions were aimed at highlighting alleged irregularities in the NBA’s operations. The acquittal reinforces his position and underscores the judiciary’s scrutiny of evidence in protracted legal disputes.
Legal experts view this as a reminder of the high burden of proof in defamation cases, especially those involving public figures and activists. As the Narmada movement continues to evoke strong opinions, this verdict may reshape narratives around one of India’s most prominent environmental campaigns.
