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.
Akbar, who resigned as Union minister on October 17 last year, filed a private criminal defamation complaint against Ramani after his name cropped up on social media as the #MeToo campaign raged on in India.
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.
The cross-examination of Akbar by Ramani's counsel remained inconclusive and would resume on on July 6.
"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.
'By keeping silent, I could have avoided the subsequent targeting. But that would have not been the right thing to do'
'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 said the allegations against Akbar, made in the wake of #MeToo movement in 2018, were her truth.
Ramani accused Akbar of sexual misconduct around 20 years ago.
In its first comments on the sexual harassment allegations against Akbar, the BJP said the minister has given his version on the row and that it is not about whether the party agrees or disagrees with him.
Dominic Xavier feels happy for Priya Ramani and asserts the time has come for society to understand sexual abuse and harassment and their implications on victims.
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.
Love Storiyaan comes alive in the courageous and fearless voice of six spirited romantics speaking direct dil se, applauds Sukanya Verma.
Either everyone's articles and tweets are defamatory or none is. Or are the other allegations accepted, she said.
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.
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 had made allegation of sexual misconduct against Akbar in the wake of #MeToo movement in 2018.
Uttam Ghosh offers his take on the Akbar controversy.
'There are tremendous personal, economic and emotional costs to bear in a case.' 'And those costs were suffered by Priya and Priya alone.' 'Nobody goes happily to court and you wouldn't wish that on anyone.'
Time to tell our side of story: Ramani on summons in Akbar defamation case.
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.
The following are some of the key observations made by a Delhi court while throwing out M J Akbar's criminal defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani over her allegations of sexual harassment.
Akbar had filed the complaint against Ramani for allegedly defaming him by accusing him of sexual misconduct around 20 years ago when he was a journalist. Ramani had said the allegations against Akbar, made in the wake of #MeToo movement in 2018, were her truth and were made in public good.
The Delhi high court on Thursday agreed to examine former Union minister M J Akbar's appeal against the trial court order acquitting journalist Priya Ramani in his criminal defamation case over her allegations of sexual harassment.
Akbar had filed the complaint against Ramani for allegedly defaming him by accusing him of sexual misconduct around 20 years ago when he was a journalist.
'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'
Ramani had made the allegation of sexual misconduct against Akbar in the wake of #MeToo movement in 2018. Senior advocate Geeta Luthra, appearing for Akbar, said: "The moment a meeting is denied, further questions are not warranted. None of the suggestions are warranted. The meeting in the hotel is denied."
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.
The Delhi high court on Wednesday sought journalist Priya Ramani's stand on former Union minister M J Akbar's appeal against a trial court verdict in his criminal defamation case against her over sexual harassment allegations on the grounds that it was "based on surmises and conjecture".
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 new allegations take the total number of his accusers to 12.
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".
'These are sexual harassment allegations. You are a woman minister in charge. Will there be a probe on the allegations?'
'Mr Akbar has underestimated the level of pent-up anger and commitment among these women,' a young lawyer tells Sunil Sethi.
Ramani, who concluded her arguments on Saturday in the complaint filed against her by Akbar, told the court through her lawyer that the #MeToo campaign was started to correct the structural wrong, which was continuing for long.
'Ramani is not alone in her fight,' the journalists said in the joint statement undersigned by them.
The former Union minister filed a criminal defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani after she named him in the #MeToo campaign.
'How can one bring jihad into a relationship? How can one be restricted on the grounds of religion in marital things?'
On Wednesday, Minister of State (External Affairs) M J Akbar resigned from his post after facing a flurry of allegations of sexual harassment by women journalists. As the women journalists 'feel vindicated' following his resignation, here's a list of the women who came forward and shared their ordeal.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances