Social activist Medha Patkar gets released in probation over defamation case against Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena
Social activist Medha Patkar gets released in probation over defamation case against Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena
Digital Desk: A Delhi court on Tuesday spared social activist Medha Patkar from jail in a defamation lawsuit brought by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena.
The court, presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Singh, deferred Patkar's five-month jail sentence and placed her on one-year probation for good behavior.
Patkar (70) had no prior criminal record, and the court ruled that a jail term was unnecessary based on her age. The judge ruled that the activist's behavior would be watched for the following year and that the nature of the offense did not justify incarceration.
In addition to the suspended sentence, the court lowered VK Saxena's reparation payment from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 lakh. Patkar appeared in court via video conference throughout the hearing.
Previously, a magistrate court convicted Patkar of slander and sentenced her to five months in prison, with an order to pay Rs 10 lakh as compensation to Saxena.
However, the sessions court amended the sentence, allowing her relief while upholding the conviction.
Previously, a magistrate court convicted Patkar of slander and sentenced her to five months in prison, with an order to pay Rs 10 lakh as compensation to Saxena. However, the sessions court amended the sentence, allowing her relief while upholding the conviction.
