Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar to face defamation charges

Defamation charges were on Monday framed against Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) activist Medha Patkar by a Delhi court in a case lodged against her by Khadi Village and Industries Commission (KVIC) Chairman V K Saxena.

Saxena had lodged a complaint against the activist for allegedly defaming him on a TV news channel in 2006.  

“Prima facie case is made out against the accused for the offences,” Metropolitan Magistrate Nishant Garg said. 

The court framed the notice against Patkar under sections 499/500 (defamation) of the IPC and fixed the matter for recording of Saxena’s evidence on August 28.

After Patkar filed a case against the KVIC chairman for publishing advertisements against her and the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), the two have been embroiled in a legal battle since 2000.

Saxena was then the chief of an Ahmedabad-based NGO, National Council for Civil Liberties.

The KVIC chairman, in turn, had filed two cases against Patkar for making derogatory remarks against him on a TV channel and issuing a defamatory press statement against him.

(With inputs from agencies)