In a significant legal victory for veteran activist Medha Patkar, the Saket Court in Delhi has acquitted her in a long-standing criminal defamation case filed by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. The court’s ruling on January 25 marks the end of nearly two decades of litigation, highlighting the prosecution’s failure to substantiate its claims.
The case originated back in 2001 when Saxena, then president of the National Council for Civil Liberties, accused Patkar of making defamatory remarks against him during a 2006 television program. Patkar allegedly claimed that Saxena and his NGO had received civil contracts linked to the Sardar Sarovar Dam project. Judicial Magistrate Raghav Sharma meticulously reviewed the evidence and concluded that no solid proof was presented to validate these allegations.
Key to the acquittal was the court’s observation that Patkar was not even a live panelist on the program in question. Instead, only a brief pre-recorded video clip featuring her was aired, which did not constitute direct statements from the stage. This distinction proved fatal to the prosecution’s narrative, as no legally admissible evidence linked Patkar to live defamatory comments.
This ruling comes amid Patkar’s broader activism against displacement caused by large dams, a cause that has often pitted her against establishment figures. The acquittal reinforces judicial scrutiny on free speech boundaries in public discourse. Patkar’s legal team hailed it as a triumph of truth over fabricated charges, while it underscores the challenges in proving defamation in media contexts.
As Patkar continues her advocacy, this decision sets a precedent for activists facing similar suits. It reminds us that courts demand concrete evidence, not mere assertions, in upholding the rule of law. The verdict closes a chapter on a contentious episode, allowing focus to shift back to pressing social issues.