Delhi HC advances hearing in MJ Akbar’s appeal against Priya Ramani’s acquittal

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday advanced the hearing of former Union minister and journalist M J Akbar’s appeal challenging the acquittal of journalist Priya Ramani in a criminal defamation case linked to sexual harassment allegations.

Akbar’s appeal was originally listed for hearing on May 7. However, after he sought an early hearing, the matter was briefly taken up by Justice Ravinder Dudeja, who rescheduled it for March 16. Senior advocate Rajiv Nayar appeared for Akbar.

Ramani’s counsel, senior advocate Rebecca John, along with advocate Anushka Baruah, told the court there was “no real pressing urgency” in the matter.

Akbar filed the defamation complaint in 2018 after Ramani accused him of sexual harassment during India’s #MeToo movement through tweets and articles published in print and online media. Akbar claimed the allegations had damaged his reputation.

In February 2021, a trial court acquitted Ramani, holding that her statements were protected and noting the larger context of systemic workplace harassment and the lack of effective grievance redressal mechanisms at the time. The court observed that “even a man of social status can be a sexual harasser” and ruled that the right to reputation cannot be protected at the cost of a woman’s right to dignity.

Akbar challenged the acquittal in the Delhi High Court in 2021, and the appeal was admitted in 2022. In September this year, the High Court transferred the case to a designated court handling criminal matters involving sitting and former MPs and MLAs.