Delhi HC Schedules Final Hearing for MJ Akbar’s Defamation Case Against Priya Ramani on September 24

New Delhi, Mar 16: The Delhi High Court on Monday listed former Union minister M J Akbar’s plea challenging the acquittal of journalist Priya Ramani in his criminal defamation case for final hearing on September 24. The case revolves around Ramani’s allegations of sexual misconduct against Akbar.

“Trial court record has been received, and written submissions have been filed by both parties. List for final hearing on the next date,” Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said.

Akbar has appealed against the trial court’s February 17, 2021 order acquitting Ramani, which had upheld a woman’s right to raise grievances on any platform, even decades later. The High Court admitted Akbar’s appeal on January 13, 2022, and notices were issued to Ramani in August 2021.

In his plea, Akbar argued that the trial court relied on surmises and conjecture while dismissing the defamation case. He claimed the court failed to properly evaluate the evidence and arguments, and erred by stating that he did not enjoy a stellar reputation, allegedly ignoring established criminal jurisprudence principles.

The trial court had dismissed Akbar’s defamation complaint, ruling that Ramani did not commit any punishable offense. It also emphasized the shamefulness of crimes against women in a country historically steeped in texts like the Mahabharata and Ramayana, which uphold respect for women.

Ramani had accused Akbar of sexual misconduct in 2018 during the #MeToo movement. Akbar subsequently filed the defamation complaint on October 15, 2018, claiming that her allegations defamed him decades after the alleged incidents.