India, July 30 -- The Delhi High Court on Tuesday upheld a trial court order convicting and sentencing activist Medha Patkar in a 2001 criminal defamation case filed by lieutenant governor (LG) VK Saxena, concluding that her statements were defamatory and tarnished Saxena's image.

The defamation case was filed by Saxena when he was heading the non-profit National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL), which actively supported the Sardar Sarovar Dam Project in Gujarat. The case stemmed from a press release issued by Patkar, who led the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) that mobilised protests against the construction of the dam. A release titled "True Face of Patriot" alleged that Saxena had donated a cheque to the NBA, which later bounced and im...