#MeToo: MJ Akbar files defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani

Smita Sharma
Tribune News Service 
New Delhi, October 15

Union minister M J 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 maliciously" defaming him and has sought her prosecution under the penal provision on defamation.

"The complainant (Akbar) also had a long career in journalism, he launched India's first weekly political news magazine...," the complaint said and listed out defamatory imputations made by Ramani on social media against him.

Whilst it is apparent that the accused has resorted to a series of maliciously serious allegations which she is diabolically and viciously spreading in media, it is also apparent that false narrative against the complainant (Akbar) is being circulated in a motivated manner for the fulfilment of an agenda, the complaint said.

It termed as "scandalous" the allegations made by Ramani against Akbar and said "very tone and tenor" are ex-facie defamatory and they have not only damaged his goodwill and reputation in his social circle but also affected Akbar's reputation in the community and friends, family and colleagues and caused irreparable loss and tremendous distress.

The complaint, filed through advocate Sandeep Kapur, seeks issuance of notice to Ramani under Section 499 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Section 500 of the IPC provides that an accused may be awarded two years jail term or fine or both in the event of conviction.

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.  

Earlier last week when asked The Tribune if as Akbar’s immediate boss and a woman senior minister in cabinet would seek some probe into allegations, Swaraj had refused to respond and simply walked away. 

On Sunday, hours after returning from an official visit to Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea without cutting short the trip, a defiant Akbar brazened out allegations of sexual harassment against himself in a statement to media in his 9 Teenmurti Lane bungalow.

"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," said Akbar as he lashed out at the #MeToo campaign. "Accusation without evidence has become a viral fever among some sections," he added threatening to take appropriate legal action against those who have levelled 'wild and baseless allegations' against him. 

Last Sunday, journalist Priya Ramani first named Akbar in a tweet and identified him as the anonymous male editor she wrote about in an article last year and narrated her harrowing experience with him as a subordinate. "When asked recently why she had not named me, she replied, in a Tweet: "Never named him because he didn't 'do' anything. "If I didn't do anything, where and what is the story? There is no story. This was admitted at the very inception. But a sea of innuendo, speculation and abusive diatribe has been built around something that never happened," responded Akbar in his statement today to Ramani's tweet.

A prominent journalist, Akbar had been Editor for leading papers, including Asian Age, India Today and Telegraph. Since Ramani, the junior minister has been named and shamed publicly by some dozen women journalists, including two 18-year-old.

'Disingenuous'

Ramani’s statement issued on Monday in response to Akbar’s denial said it was “disingenuous” to ask why the woman had spoken out now, especially given “the stigma and the shame” that victims face.  

“In the case of Mr MJ Akbar, at the time these incidents occurred, the complainant women were working for him. Those who have spoken up against Mr Akbar have done so at great risk to their personal and professional lives,” she said in her statement. “At this moment, it is disingenuous to ask why they have spoken now, as we are well aware of the stigma and shame that sexual crimes inflict upon victims. Rather than cast aspersions on the intent and motives of these women, we must reflect on how to improve the workplace for future generations of men and women.”

Here’s a reproduction of the complete statement:

The past two weeks have seen an upheaval, with several women from different professions, including journalists, making serious allegations of sexual harassment at the workplace and instances of sexual misconduct against various editors, writers, filmmakers and others.

These testimonies have emerged as a consequence of a slow but increasing empowerment of women over the years and a #MeToo movement unfolding across social media in India and across the world.

In the case of Mr MJ Akbar, at the time these incidents occurred, the complainant women were working for him. Those who have spoken up against Mr Akbar have done so at great risk to their personal and professional lives.

At this moment, it is disingenuous to ask why they have spoken now, as we are well aware of the stigma and shame that sexual crimes inflict upon victims. Rather than cast aspersions on the intent and motives of these women, we must reflect on how to improve the workplace for future generations of men and women.

This is why I wish to register my strong protest against Mr Akbar’s most recent statement, which pays no heed to the trauma and fear of survivors or the courage required to speak truth to power.

I am deeply disappointed that a union minister should dismiss the detailed allegations of several women as a political conspiracy. By instituting a case of criminal defamation against me, Mr Akbar has made his stand clear: rather than engage with the serious allegations that many women have made against him , he seeks to silence them through intimidation and harassment.

Needless to say, I am ready to fight allegations of defamation laid against me, as truth and the absolute truth is my only defence.

Priya Ramani
15 October 2018