India, Jan. 26 -- A Delhi court has acquitted social activist Medha Patkar in a criminal defamation case filed by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena over her remarks during a television programme in 2006, saying he had failed to place on record the original recording device or the complete video footage capturing the alleged objectionable comments.

In the absence of legally admissible evidence establishing publication of defamatory statements by Patkar, the court acquitted her of the charge under Section 500 of the IPC.

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. Saxena, then president of the National Counci...