DNA Edit: Predators In The Dock - Social media is judge, jury and prosecutor

The resignation of Union Minister MJ Akbar in the wake of charges of sexual harassment, by nearly a score of women, would be welcomed by all right-thinking people. Akbar’s continuation in office, while battling these allegations of serious sexual misconduct, ultimately proved to be untenable.

Given his resolve to fight these “false and fabricated” charges, it was only proper that he step down as a minister and pursue the case in his personal capacity. The MeToo movement has all the attributes of an inquisition conducted by self-appointed crusaders convinced of their own righteousness.

It has used the undoubted powers of the social media to launch a prosecution and pronounce their verdict. Is it any surprise then that no FIRs have been lodged thus far and all charges and a few counter-charges have existed mainly in the social media, which has enough powers to knock down anyone from a pedestal.   

The social media has set itself up as judge, jury and prosecutor, all in one. Although Akbar’s political fate appears to be sealed, there still is public interest in the criminal defamation case that he has filed against one of his accusers, who admitted that he “didn’t do”anything.

The ends of justice demand that all those accused and guilty, including Akbar, be uncompromisingly pursued. Akbar’s case has given rise to the perception that the former celebrity editor was targeted and brought down not for the gravity of his offence, but for being a BJP member.

At the same time, the fact that he is an accomplished editor, author and writer cannot be cited as a mitigating factor. Neither the political colour nor the intellectual achievements of a predator should be the basis for putting him in the dock or absolving him of guilt.

A number of others, especially media personalities, who have also been accused, are spared because these predators are seen as “progressive”, “left” and “liberal” and not associated with the BJP or a right-wing outfit. 

In October 2017, Raya Sarkar, a law student at University of California in Davis, posted a list accusing South Asian academics of sexual harassment. Among the predators named was faculty of the Asian College of Journalism in Chennai. But left-liberals sought to suppress the news, absolve the accused without an inquiry and even circulated a petition in his defence.

Similarly, a leading TV personality, who is named a predator in the current MeToo campaign, is being practically let off the hook because he is associated with a left-liberal news website, a founding editor of which has also been accused of sexual harassment.

It is important to remember that powerful men got away because women were isolated. Social media constructs a cohort, which is generally powerful enough to correct a wrong. But care needs to be taken to ensure that the cohort does not degenerate into a mob.