India, April 9 -- A city court on Tuesday released on probation activist Medha Patkar in connection with a 2001 criminal defamation case filed by Delhi lieutenant governor VK Saxena, observing that the Narmada Bachao Andolan leader was a person of repute with no history of conviction.

"While the convict made false and malicious allegations through a press conference, intending to harm complainant VK Saxena's reputation, she is a lady with no prior conviction and social standing and has been awarded several national awards...she deserves the benefit of being released on probation under provisions of the CrPC," additional sessions judge Vishal Singh of Saket court observed while hearing submissions on the quantum of sentence to be handed o...