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NEW DELHI: Former Union minister M J Akbar advised a Delhi courtroom on Thursday that journalist Priya Ramani had “no right” to accuse him of sexual misconduct that allegedly occurred a long time in the past as she couldn’t show it.
The treatment in opposition to misconduct on the office was all the time accessible and that Ramani’s accusation weren’t in good religion or within the public curiosity, he mentioned.
Akbar made the submission earlier than Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ravindra Kumar via senior advocate Geeta Luthra throughout the remaining listening to in a prison grievance filed by him in opposition to Ramani for allegedly defaming him by accusing him of sexual misconduct greater than 20 years in the past when he was a journalist.
Ramani had made allegation in opposition to Akbar within the wake of #MeToo motion in 2018.
“Ramani known as Akbar media’s largest predator.
When you forged an aspersion on somebody, it’s a must to present proof and what investigation you could have performed.
“After 25-30 years, you do not go to courtroom.
You say there was no regulation.
What is that this regulation which was not current since 1860,” Luthra requested.
She mentioned there was no proof, proof or verification to what Ramani accused.
“This witness (Ramani) has no truth. There is no evidence, proof or verification. Irresponsible statements like calling someone a predator was made,” she mentioned.
She added there have been 1000’s of tweets, reporting in newspapers, magazines. What may she have performed extra to break my (Akbar) repute? It got here for gratis to her. The value is to Akbar.
” “For her, it was one thing mentioned irresponsibly with out good religion, due course of.
This is just not in good religion.
I can say it’s not in public curiosity.
She has no foundation to name him a predator,” she mentioned.
The counsel additional mentioned that Ramani maligned Akbar and her allegations unfold like wildfire.
“Remedy in opposition to misconduct at office was all the time accessible.
You can’t make allegations with out due course of after 2-3 a long time.
Because you can’t show it and it is false, you do not have the precise to do it.
“Ramani maligned Akbar and her tweets and allegations spread like wildfire,” she mentioned.
The courtroom will additional hear the matter on January 18.
Akbar had filed the prison defamation grievance in opposition to Ramani in October 15, 2018.
He resigned as Union minister on October 17, 2018.
Akbar had earlier advised the courtroom that Ramani had defamed him by calling him with adjectives resembling ‘media’s largest predator’ that harmed his repute.
He has denied all of the allegations of sexual harassment in opposition to the ladies who got here ahead throughout #MeToo marketing campaign in opposition to him.
Over 20 girls got here up with accounts of the alleged sexual harassment by Akbar whereas they had been working as journalists below him.
He termed the allegations “false, fabricated and deeply distressing” and mentioned he was taking acceptable authorized motion in opposition to them.
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