#MeToo: M J Akbar files criminal defamation suit against journalist Ramani

Ramani says she was disappointed that Akbar's statement of Sunday paid no heed to the "trauma and fear of the survivors"

Union Minister M J Akbar, who is facing sexual harassment allegations from nearly a dozen women, filed a private criminal defamation complaint against journalist Priya Ramani on Monday. As part of the #MeToo campaign in India, Ramani is one of the women to have levelled charges of sexual misconduct against Akbar from the time he was the editor of a newspaper.

Akbar, the Minister of State for External Affairs, had accused Ramani of “wilfully, deliberately, intentionally, and maliciously” defaming him and has sought her prosecution under the penal provision on defamation.

Ramani said she was disappointed that Akbar’s statement of