#MeToo – MJ Akbar files criminal defamation case against Priya Ramani

New Delhi : NpNews24- Online-Union Minister of state for external affairs MJ Akbar on Monday filed a criminal defamation case in Delhi’s Patiala House Court against journalist Priya Ramani, through his advocates Karanjawala & Co. Ramani has accused Akbar of sexual harassment.

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Statement by Mr. M.J. Akbar, “Ms. Priya Ramani began this campaign a year ago with a magazine article. She did not, however, name me as she knew it was an incorrect story. 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. Some are total, unsubstantiated hearsay; others confirm, on the record, that I didn’t do anything. Let me note examples. Shutapa Paul states, “The man never laid a hand on me.” Shuma Raha says, “I must clarify, however, that he didn’t actually ‘do’ anything”. One woman, Anju Bharti, went to the absurd extent of claiming I was partying in a swimming pool. I do not know how to swim.

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Another accusation was made repeatedly by Ms Ghazala Wahab, in an effort to damage my reputation. She claimed that she had been molested in office, 21 years ago. This is 16 years before I entered public life, and when I was in media. The only office where I worked with her was that of The Asian Age. A part of the editorial team then worked out of a small hall. At the time concerned, I had a very tiny cubicle, patched together by plywood and glass. Others had tables and chairs two feet away. It is utterly bizarre to believe that anything could have happened in that tiny space, and, moreover, that no one else in the vicinity would come to know, in the midst of a working day. These allegations are false, motivated and baseless.

Ms Wahab states that she complained to Ms Veenu Sandal, who wrote features for the paper. Ms Sandal has described Ms Wahab’s version as nonsense, in an interview to the Indian Express. Ms Sandal has also said that she has never heard, in 20 years, anybody accusing me of any such thing. It is pertinent to remember that both Ms Ramani and Ms Wahab kept working with me even after these alleged incidents; this clearly establishes that they had no apprehension and discomfort. The reason why they remained silent for decades is very apparent: as Ms Ramani has herself stated, I never did anything. This is the reason why no one went to the authorities for so long, because I had done nothing. Why has this storm risen a few months before a general election? Is there an agenda? You be the judge.

These false, baseless and wild allegations have caused irreparable damage to my reputation and goodwill. Lies do not have legs, but they do contain poison, which can be whipped into a frenzy. This is deeply distressing. As indicated above, I will be taking appropriate legal action.”

BJP to examine charges against Akbar

Earlier BJP president Amit Shah has clarified that allegations of sexual harassment against MJ Akbar, minister of state for external affairs in the Narendra Modi led government, will be investigated. Shah also said that it has to be seen how much truth is there in the allegations. This is the first official response from the party after Akbar’s name cropped up in MeToo campaign. Akbar has been accused of sexual harassment when he was Editor with The Asian Age newspaper. Several women journalists have come forward and narrated their ordeal.

Akbar, who was abroad on official tour, returned to India on Sunday. After coming out of Akbar’s name for sexual harassment, the BJP is under pressure from both the parties and the opposition. As a result, the BJP will have to take serious note of the incident.