In one of the most awaited verdict, the Delhi High court will pronounce verdict in the criminal defamation case brought against journalist Priya Ramani by editor-turned-politician MJ Akbar.In October 2018, Akbar had filed the case against Ramani citing an article she had written for The Vogue earlier and a later a tweet alleging that the former editor of Asian Age newspaper had sexually harassed her during a job interview in 1994. Also Read: Missed Your Vaccination? Here’s Another Chance For Healthcare, Frontline Workers – Check Fresh Deadlines Here
What is the defamation case?
Back then Akbar was a Union Minister of State when Ramani levelled the allegation forcing him to resign from the Council of Ministers. Afer that he moved court against Ramani denying the allegations and called them a conspiracy to tarnish his reputation even as nearly two dozen other women journalists stood up in Ramani’s support.
It is to be noted that similar allegations of sexual harassment surfaced against him at that time. More importantly, Ramani’s allegations garnered attention because it came amid the #MeToo campaign by women across the world speaking up against sexual harassment they had faced in India. However, soon after the defamation trial began against Ramani, the #MeToo campaign in India gradually began to cool down.
What is expected?
If the judgement comes in Ramani’s favour then it could potentially trigger a second wave of the global campaign of bringing to the front alleged sexual predators within India. And if it doesn’t, then Ramani’s defamatory allegations could raise question about the movement which has already gone dormant for the past two years.
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