1. The present petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of
India has been filed challenging the Order dated 18.03.2025 passed by
the Judicial Magistrate First Class („JMFC‟), South East District,
Saket Courts, New Delhi, in Complaint Case No. 633718/2016 titled
„Medha Patkar vs. V.K. Saxena’. By the said Order, the learned
JMFC dismissed an application filed by the petitioner under Section
254(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (“CrPC.”), seeking
permission to examine an additional witness.
FACTUAL MATRIX
2. The complaint in the said case was instituted on 15.12.2000,
alleging that an advertisement published on 10.11.2000 in the Indian
Express newspaper was defamatory in nature. The
petitioner/complainant named three accused persons, including the
publisher and editor of the Indian Express newspaper, in addition to
the respondent herein. The petitioner/complainant also filed a list of
documents and proposed witnesses, including herself, the Circulation
Manager (or his representative), Dr. Anoop Saraya, and such other
persons.