“Fabricated non-events”, MJ Akbar makes statement before Patiala House Court

Former Union Minister MJ Akbar today made his statement before the Patiala House Court in the defamation case filed against journalist Priya Ramani.

Akbar delivered his testimony before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Samar Vishal at around 12 noon today.

He began his testimony today by telling the Court about his credentials and professional background, going into details of his career as a journalist and in public life. He went on to detail the nature and basis of his complaint against Ramani, who published a series of tweets making allegations of sexual harassment against him.

It was submitted that Ramani’s tweet carried a link to an article published in Vogue India magazine in October 2017. In this context, he stated,

“The opening sentence of the tweet explained one anomaly. When the article was published in Vogue India in 2017, it did not include my name…Ms. Priya Ramani stated as to why my name was not included earlier. She said it was because I had done nothing. This is mentioned in the tweet dated October 8 as well.”

He further submitted how the allegations made by Ramani and carried in various publications affected him.

“It has lowered my reputation in the eyes of the right-thinking members of the public, my friends, colleagues, peers and professional and political fraternity, thereby causing irreparable loss to my reputation and goodwill…There was immediate damage because of the scurrilous nature of these concocted and false allegations. I was attacked in a personal capacity about fabricated non-events allegedly done two decades ago.”

In this environment, he submitted, he chose to seek justice in his personal capacity and therefore resigned from his post as Minister of State. With this, Akbar concluded his statement.

The court proceeded to record his statement and posted the matter for November 12.

Akbar had filed a defamation suit against freelance journalist Priya Ramani after the latter accused Akbar of sexual harassment and misconduct.

Ramani is one of several women who have leveled allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment against Akbar. Akbar, however, filed a defamation complaint against Ramani alone.

The Patiala House Court took cognizance of Akbar’s complaint and had summoned him to testify before the Court today. Akbar is being represented by Senior Counsel Geeta Luthra and Advocate Sandeep Kapur of Karanjawala and Co.

Akbar, a former Editor of publications like the Asian Age, served as the Minister of State for External Affairs but resigned shortly after the allegations against him surfaced.