Priya Ramani had no right to accuse me of sexual assault as she can’t prove it — MJ Akbar
India

Priya Ramani had no right to accuse me of sexual assault as she can’t prove it — MJ Akbar

Akbar told the court the remedy against a misconduct at workplace was always available and that Ramani's accusation were not in good faith or in public interest.

   
M.J. Akbar

File photo of M.J. Akbar | @mjakbarofficial/Facebook

New Delhi: Former Union minister M J Akbar told a Delhi court on Thursday that journalist Priya Ramani had no right to accuse him of sexual misconduct that allegedly took place decades ago as she could not prove it.

The remedy against a misconduct at workplace was always available and that Ramani’s accusation were not in good faith or in public interest, he said.

Akbar made the submission before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ravindra Kumar through senior advocate Geeta Luthra during the final hearing in a criminal complaint filed by him against Ramani for allegedly defaming him by accusing him of sexual misconduct more than 20 years ago when he was a journalist.

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

Ramani called Akbar media’s biggest predator. When you cast an aspersion on someone, you have to show evidence and what investigation you have done.


Also read: False, defamatory statement by Priya Ramani led to others repeating it, MJ Akbar tells court