The Delhi High Court has postponed the hearing of former Union Minister MJ Akbar's appeal challenging the acquittal of journalist Priya Ramani in a criminal defamation case over her accusations of sexual harassment against him. The hearing has been adjourned to September 19 after Ramani's counsel sought an adjournment due to the unavailability of the senior lawyer arguing the case. Akbar had challenged the trial court's February 2021 order acquitting Ramani, arguing that the court erred in considering the case as a complaint for sexual harassment rather than defamation. The trial court had dismissed Akbar's defamation complaint and acquitted Ramani, saying no charges were proved against her.
The Delhi high court on Friday allowed a plea filed by former Union minister M J Akbar seeking an early hearing of his appeal challenging a trial court order that acquitted journalist Priya Ramani in a criminal defamation case filed by him over her allegations of sexual harassment.
'Such a remark does not behove the Prime Minister. Also, you have brought the country's youth to this point. There are no jobs. The only option is to fix punctures or sell fritters. Muslims don't just make punctures. I can list what Muslims have made'
As nominations for Rajya Sabha biennial polls closed on Tuesday, a contest is on the cards in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana even as Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram are among those set to be elected to the Upper House.
Akbar said the next general election "will be won on the basis of governance and not on journeys".
Ending all uncertainty over the trial in the criminal defamation complaint filed by former Union minister M J Akbar against journalist Priya Ramani, a Delhi court on Thursday sent back the case to the judge who was hearing it for two years.
'It was me the victim who had to stand up in the court as an accused. I thank everyone who stood by me especially my witnesses Ghazala Wahab and Niloufer Venkatraman who came to the court and testified on my behalf'
Ramani had made allegation of sexual misconduct against Akbar in the wake of #MeToo movement in 2018.
Priya Ramani had made allegation of sexual misconduct against Akbar in the wake of #MeToo movement in 2018.
'Ramani said it was important for women to speak about sexual harassment at the workplace. She hoped that the disclosure would empower women and encourage them to speak up'
Time to tell our side of story: Ramani on summons in Akbar defamation case.
The Guild had sought the views of its executive committee on what action should be taken against Akbar, a dormant member at present and one of its past presidents, Tejpal and senior journalist Gautam Adhikari "in light of sexual misconduct allegations levelled against them", a statement said.
Either everyone's articles and tweets are defamatory or none is. Or are the other allegations accepted, she said.
The chief business editor of National Public Radio said she would continue to speak her truth so that other women, who have been sexually assaulted by him, know it is okay for them to come forward and speak their truth too.
Akbar's lawyer said that he had resigned from the post of minister of state for external affairs due to these allegations and this showed the extent of damage caused to his reputation.
The Congress also demanded an inquiry into his conduct.
"It seems that apart from Ramani, nobody else had made any allegations against Akbar. By then Ghazala Wahab had written about her experience. At 15 women had spoken up on Twitter," she said before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ravindra Kumar.
With the BJP denying a renomination to Naqvi to the Upper House, and no Rajya Sabha renomination either for Sayyed Zafar Islam or MJ Akbar -- both of whom are also completing their tenures soon -- the party now has no Muslim member of Parliament from either House.
Akbar had resigned as junior external affairs minister in the wake of allegation of sexual misconduct during his tenure as a senior editor. The alleged incidents came to light during the #MeToo movement. Akbar had denied the allegations.
'I learned of her and my husband's involvement through her late night phone calls and her public display of affection in my presence'
Ramani accused Akbar of sexual misconduct around 20 years ago.
'Women are scared to speak out because they think people would make fun of them and doubt their character but now when they are speaking out we should take action against each and every allegation'
Akbar had filed a defamation case against Priya Ramani for accusing him of sexual misconduct. The allegations levelled against him forced him to resign from the Union Cabinet on October 17, 2018.
Reputations, especially in Bollywood, took a beating when people such as Tanushree Dutta and Vinta Nanda named Nana Patekar and Alok Nath for alleged misconduct years ago.
Former BJP president makes the claim at function to release Marathi translation of MJ Akbar's book
The British Broadcasting Corporation, a state-sponsored but independently run, media organization has attracted sharp criticism for having "double-standards" in its coverage of the Mumbai terror attacks. Most times the BBC reporters referred to the terrorists who attacked Mumbai as "gunmen" or "militants".
The biggest session of the day on Day 3 of the Jaipur Literature Fest was one titled 'Kashmir Kashmir'. Held at the largest area in the venue -- the front lawns -- the session was the most attended one of the day, leaving behind even the Af-Pak one which had journalist Barkha Dutt as its star attraction.
The MoS was accused of sexual harassment from his former colleagues during his stint as an editor; allegations which he has termed as "baseless" and "fabricated".
Asked about the reason behind the appointments, Sinha said they will help meet the goal to develop NMML into a centre of research as envisioned by the present government.
The former Union minister filed a criminal defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani after she named him in the #MeToo campaign.
Declaring that the right of reputation cannot be protected at the cost of right of life and dignity, a Delhi court on Wednesday threw out former Union minister and editor M J Akbar's criminal defamation suit against journalist Priya Ramani who has accused him of sexual harassment.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alleged that it was the Centre which ensured the disruption by provoking All India Anna Dravida MUnnetra Kazhagam over the Cauvery issue.
Judith D'Souza was kidnapped outside her office in the heart of Kabul on June 9.
In the third reshuffle since coming to power, Prime Minister Modi raised the strength of his Council of Ministers from 73 to 76.
