#MeToo: Ramani called me ‘sexual predator’ without any foundation, M.J. Akbar tells court

Former union minister M.J. Akbar on Monday advised a court in New Delhi that journalist Priya Ramani called him “media’s biggest sexual predator” without any investigation or foundation.

Mr Akbar made the submission via senior advocate Geeta Luthra through the remaining listening to in a felony defamation grievance filed by him in opposition to Ms Ramani for allegedly defaming him by accusing him of sexual misconduct 20 years again.

Ms Ramani had made allegation of sexual misconduct in opposition to Mr Akbar within the wake of #MeToo motion in 2018.

Ms Luthra referred to Ms Ramani’s tweet which accued Mr Akbar of being media’s largest sexual predator.

“If we look at what has been said, a conclusion is drawn that this is a predator. On what basis? All these averments (in the article) are based without any investigation or basis,” she submitted earlier than Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ravindra Kumar.

She additional learn Ms Ramani’s “premature tweet” on Mr Akbar’s resignation. “This had further tweets. In my (Akbar) cross examination I asked if this was not correct. He resigned later is wholly immaterial. This shows malafide, maliciousness.

“This is trial outside the court. Due process is in a court of law. One cannot become law onto oneself. This (the tweet) was incorrect,” she stated.

The senior advocate additional accused Ms Ramani of not telling the reality earlier than the court.

“I asked did you issue any corrigendum. She said yes. I said show. She said I would show on the next date. This was not necessary. She knew she had not issued any corrigendum.

“She says her defense is truth but she knows it is not the truth. Only in cross examination she says it was not the truth. It shows her credibility as a witness,” Ms Luthra stated.

She additional stated, “Can people repeat something incorrect? Repeating of lies by 10 persons doesn’t become the truth. Being a journalist, she could have independently verified. This is how responsible journalism works.”

“A blatantly false, incorrect statement was made to court and a blatantly false defense was taken,” she stated.

The court will additional resume the listening to on January 7.

Mr Akbar had filed the felony defamation grievance in opposition to Ms Ramani in October 15, 2018.

He resigned as Union minister on October 17, 2018.

Mr Akbar had earlier advised the court that Ms Ramani had defamed him by calling him with adjectives similar to ‘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 ladies got here up with accounts of the alleged sexual harassment by Mr Akbar whereas they have been working as journalists underneath him.

He termed the allegations “false, fabricated and deeply distressing” and stated he was taking acceptable authorized motion in opposition to them.