Overview
- A bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh refused to disturb the Delhi High Court’s affirmation of the 2001 criminal defamation verdict against Patkar
- The Supreme Court set aside the ₹1 lakh compensation order that had been imposed by both the sessions court and the High Court
- Probation conditions were modified so that Patkar may furnish bonds instead of making mandatory periodic appearances before the trial court
- Senior advocate Sanjay Parikh’s challenges to witness credibility and the admissibility of email evidence under Section 65B of the Evidence Act did not persuade the bench to overturn the conviction
- The dispute traces back to a November 2000 press note titled “True Face of Patriot,” in which Patkar accused Saxena of hawala links and issuing a bounced ₹40,000 cheque