Ahmedabad court refuses to stay Delhi LG V K Saxena's assault case trial

AHMEDABAD: A metropolitan court in Ahmedabad has refused to stay an ongoing trial against Delhi lieutenant-governor (LG) V K Saxena in connection with an alleged assault on Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar in 2002.
Additional chief metropolitan magistrate PN Goswami Monday rejected Saxena's application that claimed privilege of office and requested the court to keep the trial in abeyance till he remained lieutenant-governor, said Patkar's advocate Govind Parmar.
In March, Saxena sought a stay on the criminal prosecution pending since 2002 when he along with three others, including then BJP MLA Amit Shah, and Congress functionary Rohit Patel allegedly thrashed Patkar at Gandhi Ashram in March that year during a peace meet organised to denounce post-Godhra violence.
In his application, Saxena said he was entitled to the immunity granted to those holding constitutional positions.
In fact, he claimed a status above the governors of other states as LG of the national capital.
The prosecution did not oppose Saxena's application and skipped a reply, but Patkar did so. She took exception to Saxena's claims of higher status and that he is a "deputy of the President". The social activist argued that Saxena is a mere "agent" of the President appointed to administer Delhi and, hence, the idea of immunity from prosecution is misconceived.
It was claimed that there is electronic evidence against Saxena in the alleged assault on Patkar and the trial cannot be kept in abeyance merely because he claims privilege as LG.