Medha Patkar arrested in 24-year-old defamation case by Delhi L-G VK Saxena

A Saket court in Delhi on Wednesday issued a non-bailable warrant against Patkar after she failed to provide probation bonds and pay Rs. 1 lakh fine in the case.

The court had called her plea for adjournment "frivolous and mischievous".

Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Singh said as quoted by Hindustan Times, "Instead of appearing before the court to comply with the order on sentence dated April 8, the convict (Patkar) is absent and has deliberately failed to comply with the order on sentence and to avail of the benefit of probation subject to furnishing of the compensation amount."

"The intention of the convict 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. There is no order of suspension of sentence passed by this court on April 8," the court noted.

The court said it had only one option and that is to issue "her production through a coercive order".

"Issue non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against convict Medha Patkar, through the office of the Commissioner of Police, Delhi Police, for the next date. Put up for report on NBWs and further proceedings on May 3," the court had directed.

Patkar, who is known for Narmada Bachao Andolan, survived a five-month imprisonment on April 8 after the court relieved her on "probation of good conduct" in the case.

The defamation case, which has been ongoing for over two decades, stems from a press release issued by Patkar in 2000, where she allegedly made defamatory remarks about Saxena, who was then the president of the National Council of Civil Liberties.

The case was filed in 2001 and later transferred to Delhi in 2003.

Patkar's Narmada Bachao Andolan was a movement opposing the Sardar Sarovar Dam project due to its displacement of thousands of people.

She has also been involved in various struggles related to land acquisition, environmental justice, and human rights.

Over the years, she has received several awards for her activism.