Social activist-turned-politician Medha Patkar failed to appear before the Metropolitan Magistrate on Friday in a case related to the criminal complaint she filed after an alleged assault incident on her in the famous Sabarmati Ashram in 2002 against former Ahmedabad Mayor and others.
Patkar was asked by the court to remain present for cross-examination. She had filed a criminal complaint against former Ahmedabad Mayor Amit Shah (not current BJP president), Amit Thaker, the then president of Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha, VK Saxena, president of National Council for Civil liberties (NCCl) and Rohit Patel, a Congress corporator for assaulting her.
Medha’s Advocate moved an application for her personal exemption without giving any reason for her absence which was strongly opposed by VK Saxena and Rohit Patel through their Advocate Ajay Choksi. After hearing the argument of Public Prosecutor, Defence Counsel and following perusal of record, Metropolitan Magistrate HH Gandhi found that Medha Patkar is seeking time on various grounds and has given final opportunity to her to appear for cross-examination on August 12.
It may be noted that Patkar is in the habit of reaching late or not appearing in the courts without any justification. Metropolitan Court in New Delhi, which is hearing two defamation cases — one filed by NCCl president Saxena against her and other Medha filed against him fixed on Wednesday at 2.30 pm for mediation between them in order to reach a compromise.