MJ Akbar files defamation case against woman journalist Priya Ramani

MJ Akbar, the junior minister for external affairs who has been accused of sexual harassment by multiple women, today filed a criminal defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani.

Ramani was the first woman to come out and accuse Akbar of sexual harassment and predatory behaviour. The accusations date back to the time when Akbar was in the media and was the editor of a national daily.

Ramani in a tweet on October 8 had revealed that a 2017 article she wrote was about MJ Akbar. In that article, Ramani spoke of a senior editor who interviewed her for a job in a hotel room and made her feel uncomfortable.

Following Ramani's tweet identifying Akbar as the senior editor, several woman journalists came forward with similar stores and allegations. One woman also accused Akbar of molesting her.

On Sunday, Akbar, who was on an



official tour to Africa when the #MeToo allegations against him blew up, returned to India and issued a strong statement in which he rejected the charges against him.

Akbar said the allegations were lies being spread with a malicious intent and threatened to take legal action against his accusers.

Today, the minister of state for external affairs did just that. His lawyers have field a case against Priya Ramani under sections 499 (defamation) and 500 (punishment for defamation) of the Indian Penal Code.

The case was filed at New Delhi's Patiala House Court. Ramani has accused of "willfully, deliberately, intentionally and maliciously" defaming Akbar on "wholly and completely false, frivolous, unjustifiable and scandalous grounds."

The sections that Akbar's lawyers have invoked carry a maximum punishment of two years in prison.