Delhi HC grants early hearing in MJ Akbar’s plea against Priya Ramani’s acquittal in defamation case
The trial court had acquitted Ramani in the defamation case in 2021, recording that even a man of social status can be a sexual harasser.
Akbar had first filed the defamation case against Ramani in 2018 before a trial court after she levelled sexual harassment allegations against him during the #MeToo movement in India.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday advanced the hearing of an appeal by former BJP union minister and journalist M J Akbar against a trial court order acquitting journalist Priya Ramani in a defamation case in connection with the sexual harassment allegations against him.
While the appeal was listed for hearing on May 7, Akbar filed an application in the pending appeal and sought an early hearing. Taken up briefly by Justice Ravinder Dudeja, with senior counsel Rajiv Nayar, appearing for Akbar, the court has now set the hearing to March 16.
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Meanwhile, Ramani’s counsel, senior advocate Rebecca John and advocate Anushka Baruah, informed the court that there is “no real pressing urgency”.
Case background
Akbar had first filed the defamation case against Ramani in 2018 before a trial court after she levelled sexual harassment allegations against him during the #MeToo movement in India.
Akbar had accused Ramani of damaging his reputation by way of tweets and articles published in print and online media, after Ramani accused Akbar of sexual misconduct and harassment in the defamation proceedings before a trial court.
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The trial court had acquitted Ramani in the defamation case on February 17, 2021. It had taken into consideration the “systematic abuse at the workplace” that was prevalent, due to the lack of a mechanism to redress the grievance of sexual-harassment. It had also recorded that even a man of social status can be a sexual harasser, and had held, “right of reputation can’t be protected at the cost of right to dignity.”
Challenging the acquittal, Akbar had then moved Delhi HC in 2021, which was admitted by the court in 2022.
The Delhi HC in September had transferred the appeal to the designated court for hearing criminal matters of sitting and former MPs and MLAs.
Akbar had first filed the defamation case against Ramani in 2018 before a trial court after she levelled sexual harassment allegations against him during the #MeToo movement in India. 
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