Journalist Priya Ramani acquitted in MJ Akbar defamation case

A Delhi court on Wednesday dismissed the defamation case that former Union minister MJ Akbar had filed against former journalist Priya Ramani over her sexual harassment allegations. The Rouse Avenue Court acquitted Ramani and said a woman has the right to tell her grievance even after several years.

“The right to reputation can’t be protected at the cost of the right to dignity,” the Delhi court ruled as it freed Ramani in the defamation case. The court admitted the contention that Akbar was not a man of stellar and excellent reputation and pointed out that the right of reputation can’t be counted over the right of the life of a woman.

In 2018, Priya Ramani had made sexual allegations against Akbar that the latter harassed her when she was called to a Mumbai hotel for a job interview in December 1993.

The allegations of Ramani against MJ Akbar had made him resign from the Union Cabinet on October 17, 2018. Before quitting, he had registered a complaint against Ramani on October 15 for allegedly defaming him.