New Delhi: Two days after a non-bailable warrant (NBW) was issued against Medha Patkar by a Delhi court, she was arrested by Delhi Police on Friday.
The activist and face of Narmada Bachao Andolan was, however, released hours later.
The NBW was issued against Patkar for “deliberately” flouting the court’s order to submit probation bonds and deposit Rs 1 lakh fine in a 24-year-old defamation case moved against her by current Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena.
Saxena had taken the legal route against Patkar in 2001 — when he was chief of Ahmedabad-based NGO National Council for Civil Liberties — for defaming him in a press note titled ‘True face of patriot.’
In May 2024, Patkar was sentenced to five months of imprisonment.
On Friday, a team of police officers went to Patkar’s residence and took her in custody. “We have executed the NBW and Medha Patkar has been arrested,” said Ravi Kumar Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), South East.
A few hours after her arrest, she was produced before a court.
“I only request to be released, so I can fulfill the conditions (of fulfilling probation bonds),” Patkar’s counsel told Additional Sessions Judge Vipin Kharb of Saket Court, reported The Indian Express.
“You were given time till May 3 according to the Court order?” asked the court.
Patkar’s counsel argued: “NBW has been executed. I’m not arguing with that. The probation order still stands true as we stand before the court. I will furnish probation bonds today. I’ve been picked up on my way to the court.”
The court allowed her to furnish bail bonds, and directed her release.
