The Delhi High Court on Friday transferred to its MP/MLA bench, former union minister M J Akbar’s plea challenging the acquittal of journalist Priya Ramani in his criminal defamation case over the allegations of sexual misconduct. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri said as the matter involved a former MP, the bench meant for matters of sitting and former lawmakers ought to hear it. The court posted the matter before Justice Ravinder Dudeja for October 15.
Akbar has challenged the trial court’s February 17, 2021 order acquitting Ramani in the case on grounds that a woman has the right to put grievances before any platform of her choice even after decades. Several lady journalists raised sexual abuse allegations against former editor Akbar during MeToo campaign in 2018. He resigned as a Union Minister on October 17, 2018. However, Akbar filed defamation case only against Priya Ramani. Akbar, represented through Karanjawala and Co., has also claimed the trial court “gravely erred” in observing that he did not have a stellar reputation and has ignored the well-established principles of criminal jurisprudence.
