Social activist Medha Patkar was released from custody on Friday, just hours after her arrest in a decades-old defamation case filed by Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena.
A Delhi court, while taking note of her willingness to comply with previous directives, ordered her immediate release.
Court Grants Relief After Compliance Assured
Additional Sessions Judge Vipin Kharb ordered Patkar’s release after her lawyer informed the court that she would adhere to the conditions of the earlier order, including furnishing a probation bond and paying the ₹1 lakh fine.
Patkar had been taken into custody for failing to comply with an earlier court order that mandated her to submit the bond and pay the fine, conditions tied to a probation sentence granted earlier this month. Her absence from a crucial hearing on April 23 and non-compliance with the sentencing terms led to the issuance of a non-bailable warrant against her.
Case Origin
The defamation case traces back to the year 2000, when Patkar allegedly made damaging remarks against Vinai Kumar Saxena, then the head of the Ahmedabad-based National Council for Civil Liberties. In her statements, she allegedly called Saxena a “coward,” accused him of involvement in hawala transactions, and claimed he was acting against the interests of the people of Gujarat.
A magistrate, in a May 2024 ruling, concluded that Patkar’s remarks were defamatory and intended to tarnish Saxena’s reputation. On April 8, 2025, Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Singh had convicted Patkar but modified her sentence, placing her on probation for a year on the condition of good behavior and the payment of ₹1 lakh in compensation.
Activism & Resistance
Medha Patkar, now 70, is best known for leading the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), a grassroots movement opposing large-scale dam projects like the Sardar Sarovar Dam. She has long argued that such infrastructure projects lead to the displacement of tribal populations and irreversible ecological damage.
Over the years, Patkar has become a symbol of non-violent resistance, engaging in prolonged hunger strikes, enduring police action, and facing multiple arrests as part of her campaign against forced displacement and environmental degradation.
Though the defamation case has added a legal wrinkle to her activism, Friday’s court order brings temporary relief. Patkar’s legal team has assured full compliance moving forward, potentially closing this long-standing chapter—at least for now.
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