MJ Akbar Defamation Case: Priya Ramani summoned by Delhi court as an accused

In a defamation case filed by former Union minister MJ Akbar for levelling allegations of sexual misconduct against him, a Delhi court issued summons to journalist Priya Ramani as an accused on Tuesday.

Ramani has to appear before the court on February 25.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal had reserved the order after concluding the arguments from Akbar’s lawyer, who contended that “prima facie” a case was made out against Ramani.

Senior advocate Geeta Luthra, appearing for MJ Akbar had said that “because of these articles and tweets (by Ramani), a number of people formed opinion about me (Akbar) which defamed my reputation.”

After resigning as the Union minister on October 17 last year, Akbar filed a private criminal defamation complaint against Priya Ramani after his name cropped up on social media when he was in Nigeria in the light of the #MeToo campaign that took India by storm.

Ramani accused Akbar of sexual misconduct around 20 years ago. However, the latter has denied the allegations.

Later, several women came out with accounts of alleged sexual harassment by Akbar while he was working as a journalist.

He had termed the allegations “false, fabricated and deeply distressing” and said he was taking appropriate legal action against them.