New Delhi [India]: Activist Medha Patkar was arrested by Delhi Police on Friday after a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) was issued against her by the Saket court on April 23. The arrest stems from her failure to comply with court orders following her conviction in a defamation case filed in 2000 by the then Delhi Lieutenant Governor, VK Saxena.
Patkar is set to be produced before the Saket court today.
On April 23, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Vishal Singh ordered:
“Issue NBWs against convict Medha Patkar, through the office of the Commissioner of Police, for the next date.”
The case has been listed for further proceedings and a report on the NBW for May 3.
In July 2024, Medha Patkar was convicted and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment in the defamation case, with the court directing her to pay Rs 10 lakh in compensation to VK Saxena. She was granted probation and released on the condition of good conduct for a year, provided she deposited the compensation and submitted a probation bond.
However, her failure to comply with these conditions led to the issuance of the arrest warrant. The court expressed strong disapproval of her absence and non-compliance, stating:
“Instead of appearing before the court and to comply with the order on sentence of April 8, 2025, the convict is absent and deliberately failed to comply with the order on sentence and to avail the benefit of probation subject to furnishing of compensation amount.”
Judge Singh further stated:
“The intention of convicting Medha Patkar is apparent, that she is deliberately violating the court order, she is avoiding appearing before the court and also avoiding accepting the terms of the sentence passed against her… This court is left with no option but to enforce the production of convict Medha Patkar through coercive order.”
Earlier this week, an application was moved on Patkar’s behalf seeking adjournment, citing a pending appeal before the High Court. The application was rejected, with the court declaring:
“The application is frivolous and mischievous and is only calculated to hoodwink the court. The present application is therefore dismissed.”
Despite appearing via video conferencing previously, Patkar was directed to appear in person on April 23 but failed to do so. The court warned that non-compliance going forward could result in an alteration of her probation-based sentence.
The matter will now continue on May 3, with the court deciding the next steps depending on Patkar’s compliance with its previous orders.