Delhi LG VK Saxena acquitted in criminal defamation case by Medha Patkar

A Delhi court on Thursday acquitted Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena in a two-decade-old defamation case filed by Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) activist Medha Patkar.

Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Raghav Sharma of Saket court passed the order.

A detailed judgment is awaited.

Patkar sued Saxena over an advertisement published in The Indian Express by the National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL) on November 10, 2000. Saxena was then the president of the organisation. While it was supporting the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat, Patkar's NBA was against the project.

The advertisement was titled "True face of Ms Medha Patkar and her Narmada Bachao Andolan”.

Patkar responded to the advertisement through a press note and also filed the present defamation case which was dismissed today.

Advocate Sridevi Panikkar appeared for Medha Patkar.

VK Saxena was represented through advocates Gajinder Kumar, Kiran Jai, Chandra Shekhar, Drishti and Somya.

Interestingly, Saxena also sued Patkar for criminal defamation over the press note issued by her.

In that case, Patkar was convicted by the trial court and that order was sustained by the Supreme Court. However, the apex court set aside the penalty of ₹1 lakh imposed on her.

Notably, on January 24, 2026, the trial court had acquitted Patkar in a separate defamation case filed by Saxena.

Advocate Sridevi Panikkar appeared for Medha Patkar.

Advocates Gajinder Kumar, Kiran, Chandra Shekhar, Drishti and Somya appeared for VK Saxena.