Journalist Priya Ramani gets bail in defamation case filed by M J Akbar

In October last year, when the #MeToo storm swept across the country, Ramani had accused Akbar of sexual harassment and misconduct along with several other women.

Journalist Priya Ramani outside the Patiala house court after getting bail in defamation case filed by former Union Minister M J Akbar, in New Delhi on Monday. (Source: Express photo by Praveen Khanna)

Journalist Priya Ramani was granted bail by a Delhi trial court on Monday after she summoned as an accused in the criminal defamation complaint filed by former union minister M J Akbar. The bail was set at Rs 10,000 and the next date of hearing is March 8.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Priya Ramani said: “The next date when they will frame the charges against me is April 10. After that it will be my turn to tell my story. The truth is my defence.”

In January, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal sought her personal appearance after observing that a “prima facie” offence of defamation has been committed by Ramani against Akbar.

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In October last year, when the #MeToo storm swept across the country, Ramani had accused Akbar of sexual harassment and misconduct along with several other women.

This led Akbar to step down as junior foreign minister and file a defamation suit against Ramani.

A Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh, Akbar has called the allegations false and imaginary.

“I was attacked in my personal capacity about alleged and fabricated non-events allegedly done two decades ago,” he had said in his deposition before the judge to substantiate his charges against the journalist that allegations of “Ms Priya Ramani are not only defamatory but are also false”.

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