MJ Akbar Defamation Case: Court Reserves Order On Summoning Journalist Priya Ramani

NEW DELHI — A Delhi court Tuesday reserved for 29 January its order on whether to summon journalist Priya Ramani as an accused in a defamation case filed by former union minister MJ Akbar after she levelled allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal reserved the order after listening to arguments from Akbar’s lawyer, who said a prima facie case was made out against Ramani.

Akbar, who resigned as Union minister on 17 October last year, filed a private criminal defamation complaint against Ramani after his name cropped up on social media when he was in Nigeria as the #MeToo campaign raged on in India.

Ramani accused Akbar of sexual misconduct around 20 years ago, which was denied by him.

Several other women, who have worked with Akbar, have also accused him of predatory behaviour.