High Court grants bail to Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar

Indore: The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday granted bail to Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar, arrested on the charge of holding government officials captive during her indefinite fast for full rehabilitation of those displaced by the Sardar Sarovar Dam project.

Justice Ved Prakash Sharma of the Indore bench of the High Court granted bail to Patkar on a personal bond of Rs 40,000 on the condition that she would not obstruct government officials engaged in removing people from the submergence area of the dam in Madhya Pradesh.

Patkar will have to appear before the trial court as and when directed, and before the police whenever needed during the investigation, the judge said.

Anandmohan Mathur, Patkar’s lawyer, questioned the veracity of the charges against her. Additional Advocate General Manoj Dwivedi opposed her bail plea, saying if released, she may again obstruct officials from discharging their duties.

Patkar was arrested on August 9 after a case was registered against her under IPC sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty) and 365 (kidnapping) at Kukshi in Dhar district.

She and her supporters were accused of having held government and Narmada Valley Development Authority officials captive for two-and-half hours on August 1, the FIR said.

Patkar, who was on indefinite hunger strike at village Chikhalda in Dhar district, was shifted to hospital after her condition deteriorated, and subsequently arrested.