New Delhi, Apr 25 (PTI): The Delhi Police released social activist Medha Patkar from its custody seven hours after her arrest on Friday in connection with a 24-year-old defamation case filed by Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, officials said.

Earlier in the day, Patkar was arrested by the Delhi Police, two days after a city court issued a non-bailable warrant against her for not furnishing probation bonds in the case.

She was released at around 4:30 pm after she deposited a bail bond of Rs 1 lakh, which was accepted by the court in the matter of V K Saxena Vs Medha Patkar.

She will now be under the court's watch for a year and if there is any recalcitrant behaviour on her part, she will have to serve the five-month prison sentence.

A police team reached Patkar's residence in southeast Delhi's Nizamuddin area around 9:30 am and took her into custody, an official said.

"We have executed the NBW (non-bailable warrant) and Medha Patkar has been arrested," Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) Ravi Kumar Singh said.

The arrest came after Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Singh granted Patkar a one-year probation on April 8, observing that the offence did not merit imprisonment and citing her contributions as the leader of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) and recipient of several awards.

According to the order, Patkar was directed to furnish probation bonds by April 23. However, with no compliance on record, the court issued the NBW against her.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



New Delhi: The countdown has begun for the counting of votes for the Assembly elections in five states that have captured the attention of people across the country.

The counting of votes for the Assembly constituencies of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and the Union Territory of Puducherry will begin simultaneously at 8 am, and the fate of candidates in a total of 824 constituencies will be decided shortly.

The counting of postal ballots will take place first, followed by the counting of EVM votes in several rounds.

► DMK candidate in Thiruchirapalli KN Nehru behind TVK's G Ramamoorthi by 292 votes

► The BJP has taken an early lead in West Bengal, while Mamata Banerjee faces tough competition

► TVK head Vijay leads in Perambur constituency

► M. K. Stalin is leading in Tamil Nadu’s Kolathur constituency.

► AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami is leading in Tamil Nadu’s Edappadi constituency

► In Puducherry, BJP is leading in 3 seats.

► In Assam, BJP is leading in 56 seats, while Congress is leading in 12 seats.

► Suvendhu Adhikari leads in both Bhabanipur and Nandigram

► West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee faces setback in Bhabanipur constituency

► Bhupen Borah, who recently left Congress and joined the BJP, is leading in Assam’s Bihpuria constituency

► Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma is leading in Jalukabari constituency

► BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari is leading in West Bengal’s Nandigram constituencyFive-state elections: Postal vote counting begins

► TMC, BJP lead in one seat each in West Bengal

► In Tamil Nadu, DMK leads in 3 constituencies, while TVK leads in 1

► UDF leads in 5 seats in Kerala, BJP in 1, LDF in 1

► BJP leads in 2 seats, AIUDF in 1 in Assam

► AINRC leads in 1 constituency in Puducherry

► TMC leads in 5 seats in West Bengal; Mamata Banerjee’s party maintains initial lead

► Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin leads in Kolathur

► BJP takes early lead in Assam

► Congress-led UDF leads in Kerala

► Tamil Nadu, TVK chief Vijay leads in the Perambur constituency, lags in Tiruchirappalli South

► BJP leads in 10 seats in Assam

► LDF candidate V.P.P. Mustafa leads in the Thrikkaripur Assembly constituency

► Out of 294 seats in West Bengal, BJP is leading in 14 seats, TMC in 12 seats, Congress in 2 seats

► Out of 234 seats in Tamil Nadu, DMK is leading in 15 seats, AIADMK is leading in 5 seats, TVK is leading in 2 seats

► Out of 126 seats in Assam, BJP is leading in 31 seats, Congress in 4 seats, AIUDF in 2 seats.

► Out of 30 seats in Puducherry, NRC+ is leading in 3 seats, Congress in 2 seats, TVK in 1 seat.

► Congress’ Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury suffers a setback in theBerhampore constituency in West Bengal.