Union Minister MJ Akbar on Monday filed a private criminal defamation complaint against journalist Priya Ramani who recently levelled charges of sexual misconduct against him as the #MeToo campaign raged in India.
The Minister of State for External Affairs has accused Ramani of “wilfully, deliberately, intentionally and malaciously” defaming him and has sought her prosecution under the penal provision on defamation.
Akbar had refused to step aside from his ministerial post and attended a meeting on Monday with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj . The minister was flanked by her junior colleagues Akbar and Gen VK Singh at a meeting in Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan to discuss the upcoming Pravasi Bharatiya Divas preparation.
Akbar in his media statement on Sunday after returning from an overseas official visit brazened our sexual harassment allegations levelled by more than a dozen women journalists so far.
“The allegations of misconduct made against me are false and fabricated, spiced up by innuendo and malice. I could not reply earlier as I was on an official tour abroad,” Akbar told ANI.
[…] November 12 as the next date of hearing. #MeToo Row: MJ Akbar Records Statement Before Court in Defamation Case Against Journalist Priya Ramani; Next Hearing on November […]