New Delhi [India], April 25 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Friday deferred the order of sentence awarded to social activist Medha Patkar and directed her release on bail.
The High Court was informed that she had been arrested pursuant to a non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued against her for non-compliance with a trial court order. As interim relief, the High Court ordered her release on bail.
She was convicted and sentenced in a defamation case filed by incumbent Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena in 2001.
However, the appellate court had sentenced her and ordered her release on probation of good conduct for one year, along with a compensation payment of ₹1 lakh to Saxena. This order has been challenged before the High Court by Patkar.
Justice Shalinder Kaur, after considering the submissions, sought a response from VK Saxena on the petition moved by Medha Patkar within two weeks.
Meanwhile, the court has deferred the sentence till May 20, the next date of hearing.
“As contentious issues have been raised on behalf of the parties with respect to the suspension of sentence, and that the learned Senior Counsel submits that the petitioner has been taken in custody in execution of the NBW, therefore, in these circumstances, by way of an interim means, the petitioner be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond in the sum of ₹25,000 with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned ASJ/Link ASJ/CMM/Duty Magistrate,”
— Justice Shalinder Kaur ordered on Friday.
Senior Advocate Sanjay Parikh, along with Advocate Abhimanyu Shreshth, appeared for Medha Patkar.
The Senior Counsel also submitted that the petitioner has followed the law in its entirety.
On the other hand, Advocate Gajinder Kumar, counsel for respondent VK Saxena, sought time to file a reply within two weeks.
Medha Patkar had approached the Delhi High Court challenging the order of the trial court convicting and sentencing her. A fresh petition was filed before the High Court.
She was arrested by Delhi Police on Friday morning. Thereafter, she was produced before the Saket court, which had issued the NBW against her on April 23, 2025, for non-compliance with its order.
Patkar was released after she furnished the bond and submitted the compensation amount of ₹1 lakh.
The appellate court, while deciding her appeal on April 8, 2025, against conviction and sentence by the Magistrate court, had sentenced her and directed her release on probation of good conduct. The court had directed her to appear and furnish a probation bond and deposit the compensation amount on April 23, 2025.
She had approached the High Court seeking deferment. However, on April 22, the High Court had asked her to approach the appellate court at Saket. The Saket court subsequently dismissed her application and issued an NBW against her.
On May 24, 2024, the Magistrate court had held her guilty of defamation. On July 1, 2024, she was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment and directed to pay ₹10 lakh in compensation to VK Saxena. She was granted bail to challenge the order and subsequently appealed to the Sessions Court.
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