New Delhi: Journalist Priya Ramani has been acquitted of the defamation charges made against her by former Journalist cum Politician MJ Akbar.
In the wake of the #MeToo movement in 2018 Ramani has accused Akbar of sexual misconduct that took place in 1994 when he called her for an interview and behaved inappropriately.
Taking into consideration the systematic abuse at the workplace, the court said "Women can't be punished for raising instances of sexual abuse," adding, "The Indian constitution allows women to put forward her grievances before any forum and at any time".
Reading out the order, the court said that there are social stigma attached with the allegations. Society must understand the impact of sexual abuse and harassment on its victims, and added, "A woman has right to put her grievance even after decades".
The court further informed the parties that an appeal can be filed in case of any grievance and ask Ramani to furnish a bail bond in case an appeal is preferred.
In its verdict, the Delhi court observed that even a man of social status can be a sexual harasser. "Sexual abuse takes away dignity and self confidence," it said, and asserted that the "right of reputation can't be protected at the cost of right to dignity."
Ramani's confession of sexual harassment during the #MeToo campaign, in an article in 2017 and a tweet in 2018, has opened the floodgates, with several other women stepping in who also accused Akbar of sexual harassment during the time they had worked with him as journalists.
However, denying the allegations, Akbar termed it as "false, fabricated and deeply distressing". He further stated that he will take legal action against those who defamed him.
Accordingly, he approached the court and filed a defamation suit. Journalist cum Politician Akbar who was a minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government resigned two days later, on October 17, 2018.
In the defamation suit filed by Akbar, it has been alleged that Priya Ramani's tweets and article had ruined the reputation and goodwill he built over 40 years and he had to step down from PM Modi's government.
The trial lasted for about two years.
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