Seeking justice in personal capacity, charges false: MJ Akbar in court

M J Akbar leaves court after the hearing in a defamation suit he filed against journalist Priya Ramani. (Photo: Tashi Tobgyal)

Former Minister of State (External Affairs) M J Akbar, who resigned in the wake of sexual harassment allegations against him, appeared in a Delhi Court on Wednesday to record evidence in his defamation complaint against journalist Priya Ramani. Akbar told the court that he chose to “seek justice” in his personal capacity without the “appurtenance” of office and “offered his resignation”.

“Indeed there was a immediate damage because of the scurrilous nature of these concocted and false allegations. I was attacked in my personal capacity about alleged and fabricated non-events allegedly done two decades ago. I chose in that environment to seek justice in the personal capacity… My reputation has been tarnished in the eyes of the general public and those who are near and dear known to me. I affirm that my complaint is correct and the allegations made against me by Priya Ramani are false and defamatory,” Akbar told the court during recording of his evidence in the defamation complaint.

In his complaint filed on October 16, Akbar has said that Ramani’s alleged “defamatory articles” on him were a “figment of imagination” and intended to “malign” his reputation.

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Ramani was the first to name Akbar in a Twitter post on October 8, following which over 10 women levelled sexual harassment allegations against him.

During recording of his evidence in the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal, Akbar said his reputation was lowered in the eyes of various persons, including Joyeeta Basu; Veenu Sandal; Syed Habibur Rehman; Tapan Chaki; Sunil Gujral; and others. Akbar, in the court, said: “(This was) because of Ramani’s false, baseless and defamatory accusations and allegations made intentionally and deliberately to harm my reputation and goodwill.” These five people are witnesses in the defamation complaint by Akbar.