Medha Patkar arrested in 24-year-old defamation case

Social activist Medha Patkar was arrested here on Friday, two days after a court issued a non-bailable warrant against her for not furnishing probation bonds in a 24-year-old defamation case, an official said. The case was filed by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.

A police team reached Patkar's residence in southeast Delhi's Nizamuddin area in the morning and took her into custody, they said.

"We have executed the NBW and Medha Patkar has been arrested," Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) Ravi Kumar Singh said.

The arrest comes after Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Amitabh Rawat on April 8 granted Patkar a one-year probation, observing that the offence did not merit imprisonment and cited her contributions as the leader of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) and recipient of several awards.

According to the order, Patkar was directed to furnish probation bonds by April 23. However, with no compliance on record, the court issued a non-bailable warrant against her.