A Delhi court on Monday gave social activist Medha Patkar a five-month simple jail term in a 24-year-old defamation case filed against her by VK Saxena, who is now the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. The court also ordered Patkar to pay Rs 10 lakh to Saxena as compensation.
Medha Patkar was found guilty by Metropolitan Magistrate Raghav Sharma in May this year. The case dates back to 2000 when Patkar filed a lawsuit against Saxena for running advertisements against her and the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA). Saxena had also filed two cases against her for making disrespectful remarks about him on TV and issuing a defamatory statement.
The court that convicted Patkar said her statements against Saxena were not only defamatory but also aimed at creating a negative perception.
When announcing the verdict on Monday, the court considered Patkar's age and health and decided not to impose a harsh prison term.
Patkar has applied for bail, which will keep her out of jail for 30 days until the court hears her plea.
