New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday dismissed MJ Akbar’s criminal defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani. In 2018, in the wake of the #Metoo movement Ramani has accused former Union Minister MJ Akbar of sexual misconduct.
Ramani in 2017, wrote an article for Vogue where she narrated her ordeal of being sexually harassed by a former boss during her job interview at The Oberoi Mumbai for his publication in 1993. One year later, she revealed that the person mentioned as a harasser in the article was MJ Akbar.
In October 2018, MJ Akbar had filed a criminal defamation complaint against Ramani after she took to Twitter to level allegations of sexual misconduct against him.
While Ramani pleaded truth, good faith, public interest, and public good as her defense in the defamation trial, Akbar denied the meeting at the hotel.
During the #Metoo movement several other women also accused Akbar of sexual misconduct
The Court also took note of systematic abuse at the workplace, highlighting that the Vishaka Guidelines on sexual harassment at the workplace put forth by the Supreme Court in 1997 were not in effect at the time of the incident.
Major journalists welcomed the Court’s judgment. Vinod K Jose, Executive Editor, The Caravan wrote, “Today is a big day for the women in India. Salute to the courageous woman, Priya Ramani, who chose to speak up.
