New Delhi, Jan 29 (IANS) – In a significant legal development, a Delhi court on Thursday acquitted Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena in a criminal defamation case filed over two decades ago by Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) activist Medha Patkar.
The verdict, delivered by Judicial Magistrate First Class Raghav Sharma at the Saket Courts, brings an end to a high-profile litigation that has spanned 25 years and traveled from Ahmedabad to the national capital.
“Failed to Prove Beyond Reasonable Doubt”
The court ruled that the complainant, Medha Patkar, failed to provide sufficient evidence to establish that the L-G intended to harm her reputation personally.
Key findings from the judgment include:
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Lack of Direct Evidence: The court observed there was no material on record to prove Saxena published any imputation concerning Patkar with malicious intent.
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Targeted Organization, Not Individual: The court noted that the controversial advertisement in question targeted the NBA as an organization and other specific individuals, rather than Patkar personally.
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Name in Heading Only: The judgment highlighted that while Patkar’s name appeared in the heading of the advertisement, the body text—where the substantive allegations were made—did not refer to her.
“It is hereby held that the complainant has failed to prove her case beyond reasonable doubt against the accused. Accused V.K. Saxena is hereby acquitted for the offence punishable under Section 500 of the IPC,” the court ordered.
A Decades-Old Legal Battle
The case dates back to 2000, long before V.K. Saxena assumed office at Delhi’s Raj Niwas. At the time, Saxena was the President of the Ahmedabad-based NGO ‘Council for Civil Liberties‘.
Patkar had moved the court after Saxena published advertisements critical of her and the NBA’s activities. In a notable turn of events, this acquittal comes just days after the same court acquitted Medha Patkar in a cross-defamation case filed by Saxena, citing a lack of original electronic evidence in that matter as well.
Trial Delays and Supreme Court Intervention
The litigation has seen several procedural hurdles over the years:
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Transfer of Case: Originally filed in Ahmedabad, the case was shifted to Delhi’s Saket Court following a Supreme Court order.
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Dismissal of Delays: In March 2025, the court had dismissed Patkar’s plea to examine an additional witness, describing it as a “deliberate attempt to delay the trial.”
With this acquittal, the L-G stands cleared of the criminal defamation charges under Section 500 of the IPC, marking the conclusion of one of the longest-running legal feuds between a high-ranking official and a prominent social activist.
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