Delhi court acquits activist Medha Patkar in 2006 TV programme defamation case

Key Highlights

• According to the complaint, Patkar had allegedly claimed during the programme that Saxena and his NGO had received civil contracts connected with the Sardar Sarovar project—an allegation Saxena denied.
• The court noted that Patkar was not a panellist on the programme and that only a short pre-recorded video clip of her was aired.
• It observed that neither the reporter who recorded the clip nor any person who witnessed Patkar making the alleged remarks was examined as a witness.
• ADVERTISEMENT The court further said that the entire video or audio recording of the alleged statements was not produced before it, making it impossible to determine the context or content of the remarks.
• It also noted that neither the original electronic device nor a valid secondary copy was placed on record.