New Delhi: Social activist and Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar was arrested by Delhi Police on Friday in a defamation case filed by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. The arrest, made in southeast Delhi’s Nizamuddin, follows a non-bailable warrant issued by Saket Court for Patkar’s failure to comply with a probation bond and a ₹1 lakh fine. She is scheduled to be presented before the court at 1 PM. Patkar had withdrawn her plea challenging the warrant in the Delhi High Court, which permitted her to file a fresh petition to be heard later today.

The Saket Court, presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Singh, stated, “The convict is deliberately violating court orders and evading appearance.” The court issued the non-bailable warrant, noting no stay exists on the April 8 conviction order, and set the next hearing for May 3. Patkar’s legal team had challenged the warrant, but the High Court found no merit in her stay application, dismissing it as “frivolous” and aimed at misleading the court. Legal expert Anil Sharma remarked, “This case highlights the tension between activism and legal accountability, raising questions about freedom of expression.”

The defamation case stems from a 2001 lawsuit by Saxena against Patkar, who was convicted last year for statements labeling him a “coward” and alleging his involvement in “hawala transactions.” The feud began in 2000 when Patkar sued Saxena’s NGO for publishing advertisements against her movement. Saxena’s counter-lawsuit has now culminated in Patkar’s arrest, spotlighting the ongoing legal battle. This development underscores the complex interplay between social activism and judicial processes in India.