#MeToo: The Court takes note of the case of defamation of Akbar, whose statement will be recorded on October 31

A Delhi court took note on Thursday of the lawsuit filed by MJ Akbar for criminal defamation against journalist Priya Ramani, who accused him of sexual behavior about 20 years ago and had decided to 39, save the declaration of the former minister on October 31.

Additional Metropolitan Chief Samar Vishal has heard statements from lead defender Geeta Luthra, representing Akbar, that Ramani's "controversial" tweets and similar social media publications have caused irreparable loss to his reputation built over the past 40 years. years.

"Let the case be settled so that the complainant (Akbar) and his witnesses can be interrogated on October 31," said the magistrate.

Senior counsel discussed the aftermath of the events and said that Akbar had resigned from his position as Minister of State for External Affairs because of these allegations, which shows the extent of the damage caused to his reputation.

She also referred to Akbar's reputation as a journalist and asked the court to intervene by taking cognizance of the complaint.

According to the Code of Criminal Procedure (CPPC), the court would now register evidence and statements prior to the appearance of Akbar and other witnesses, mentioned in the complaint, and give notice to Ramani to appear before a court of law. court is convinced that there is prima-facie substance in the complaint.

Akbar submitted his resignation Wednesday after stating that he had filed the case as "personal" and that he would sue her in court.

"Since I decided to seek justice in a personal court, I consider it appropriate to leave my office and challenge the false charges against me, also in a personal capacity. I have therefore resigned from I am deeply grateful to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Smt Sushma Swaraj for the opportunity they offered me to serve my country, "Akbar said in a statement. his letter.

Akbar filed a defamation suit against Ramani on Monday alleging that she "deliberately" and "maliciously" made accusations against her with the ultimate aim of tarnishing her reputation and political status.

Expressing his readiness to fight the defamation charges, Ramani said: "Rather than launching the serious charges against him by many women, he (Akbar) seeks to silence them by acts of defamation. Bullying and harassment. "

Akbar's plea had enumerated Ramani's alleged slanderous imputations on social media and also referred to his "long and illustrious career" as a journalist while labeling Ramani's allegations as "product of his imagination".

"It is obvious that the accused has resorted to a series of seriously malicious allegations that she is spreading in a devilish and vicious way in the media, it is also obvious that fake stories against the plaintiff (Akbar) circulate in a reasoned manner for the accomplishment of his deeds an "agenda," he alleged.

He described as "scandalous" Ramani's allegations and stated that the "same tone and tenor" are "ex-facie defamatory" and that they have not only undermined his goodwill and his reputation in his social entourage, but also affected Akbar's reputation in the community, friends, family and colleagues "and caused" irreparable loss "and" immense distress ".

She claimed that the woman journalist, while formulating allegations of incidents alleged to have been committed 20 years ago, "intentionally put forward malicious, fabricated and salacious imputations aimed at damaging the complainant's reputation".

"The accused's conduct of not taking any action in the face of any authority as an alleged incident against the Applicant also clearly denies the sanctity of the article and the allegations of the accused. which clearly proves that the defamatory act was committed, the articles are only the product of his imagination, "he said.

Article 500 of the ICC provides for punishment for defamation and an accused may be sentenced to two years imprisonment or a fine, or both, in the event of conviction.

Akbar's name had appeared in the #Metoo social media campaign against alleged sexual harassment when he was in Nigeria.

A few hours after his return home, Akbar had described the charges against him by several women as "fake, fabricated and deeply scary," and said he was taking legal action against them.

The women who have accused Akbar of sexual harassment include Ghazala Wahab, Shuma Raha, Anju Bharti and Shutapa Paul.