The criminal defamation suit filed by former Union Minister MJ Akbar against journalist Priya Ramani has been taken cognisance of by the Delhi’s Patiala Court under section 500 of IPC. The court has also fixed the 31st October for further hearing related to the defamation case.
Senior Counsel Geeta Luthra arguing on behalf of MJ Akbar presented the defamation suit against the journalist before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal. Geeta Luthra read out the tweets posted by the journalist against the MJ Akbar and argued that tweets posted were clearly aimed at defaming the former Union Minister.
According to Bar and Bench, Luthra highlighted the professional history of MJ Akbar to establish his reputation and said that the tweets posted by the journalist have brought disrespect to the reputation of her client.
“I have gone through the complaint and other documents annexed. I take cognizance of the offence under section 500 of the IPC” Judge Samar Vishal. The Judge after taking the documents related to the case into cognizance has called for further examination of complainant and witnesses on 31st October.
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MJ Akbar, former Minister of State for External Affairs had filed a defamation case through his lawyers Karanjawala & Co. against the journalist Priya Ramani on October 15th, after the journalist had accused MJ Akbar of sexual misconduct against her.
He was accused by several former women colleagues for sexual misconduct when he was serving in senior editorial positions in a number of media organisations in the past. M J Akbar was on an official foreign tour when these accusations were levelled against him. After returning back to the country, he had issued a lengthy statement to defend himself from these accusations.
However, MJ Akbar resigned from the post of junior Minister after severe pressure was put on him against continuing in the cabinet. M J Akbar had questioned about the motives of the victims and called the accusations as “false, baseless and wild allegations” to bring irreparable damage to his reputation and goodwill.