MeToo: Delhi court acquits Priya Ramani in MJ Akbar’s criminal defamation case

New Delhi, February 17

A Delhi court Wednesday acquitted journalist Priya Ramani in MJ Akbar’s criminal defamation case against her over the allegations of sexual harassment, saying a woman has the right to put grievances before any platform of her choice even after decades.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Pandey dismissed the complaint filed by Akbar saying that no charges were proved against her.

The court said it was shameful that crimes against women were taking place in a country where mega epics such as the Mahabharata and the Ramayana were written about respecting them.

The glass ceiling would not prevent Indian women as a roadblock in advancement in society of equal opportunities, it said.

Ramani had made allegation of sexual misconduct against Akbar in the wake of #MeToo movement in 2018.

Also read: From tweet to acquittal, here’s timeline of Akbar vs Ramani

Akbar had filed the complaint against Ramani on October 15, 2018, for allegedly defaming him by accusing him of sexual misconduct decades ago.

He resigned as a union minister on October 17, 2018.

He has denied all allegations of sexual harassment against the women who came forward during #MeToo campaign against him. — PTI