A Delhi court on Thursday, January 29, acquitted Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena in a criminal defamation case filed against him by social activist Medha Patkar. Judicial Magistrate Raghav Sharma of Saket court, while pronouncing the verdict orally, said that the allegations against the accused could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case relates to an allegedly defamatory advertisement concerning the Narmada Bachao Andolan that was published in November 2000 by VK Saxena targeting Medha Patkar.
Earlier, on January 25, a Delhi court acquitted social activist Medha Patkar in a criminal defamation case filed by VK Saxena over remarks she made during a television program in 2006, noting that the Delhi LG had failed to submit the original recording device or the full video footage containing the alleged objectionable statements.
In the absence of legally admissible evidence establishing publication of defamatory statements by Patkar, the court acquitted her of the charge under Section 500 of the IPC.
