A Delhi court on Wednesday acquitted journalist Priya Ramani in the defamation case filed by former Union minister MJ Akbar. Ramani had accused Akbar of sexual harassment during the #MeToo movement in India in 2018.
The court has acquitted Priya Ramani in the case.
In 1994, during a job interview, MJ met in a hotel room in Mumbai. Priya Ramani’s revelation was that Akbar had sexually harassed her. Twenty women were arrested following allegations made by Priya during the Me Too campaign.
‘It feels amazing, truly does. I feel vindicated on behalf of all the women who have ever spoken out against sexual harassment. Sexual harassment has got the attention it deserves.’
What an important victory #PriyaRamani pic.twitter.com/HMALDBUCau— Radhika Bordia (@radhikabordia) February 17, 2021
After the allegations, Akbar had to resign from the Union Cabinet.
Akbar had filed a criminal defamation suit against Priya Ramani in court alleging that she had lost not only his reputation as a minister but also the reputation and respect he had earned over the years among her family and colleagues.
Akbar had demanded that the allegations against him be withdrawn and an apology be made and that Priya Ramani, who had made false allegations, be tried. But Priya Ramani had also told the court that she stood firm on the allegation.