#MeToo: Delhi Court to pronounce order in MJ Akbar defamation case against Priya Ramani on February 10

A Delhi Court will pronounce its verdict in former Union Minister MJ Akbar's defamation case against Priya Ramani on February 10 (MJ Akbar vs Priya Ramani)..The order was reserved by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Pandey after the conclusion of submissions by the parties today..In October 2018, Akbar had filed a criminal defamation complaint against Ramani after she took to Twitter to level allegations of sexual misconduct against him..Ramani claimed that in December 1993, MJ Akbar sexually harassed her when she was called to The Oberoi, Mumbai for a job interview..While Ramani pleaded truth, good faith, public interest and public good as her defence in the defamation trial, Akbar denied the meeting at the hotel.."..this case cannot be seen only by the prism of the complainant (MJ Akbar). This case has to be seen from the point of view of the defense", counsel for Priya Ramani, Senior Advocate Rebecca John told the Court today in her closing submissions. .John contended that a robust, consistent and honest version of the allegations had been given by Ramani..Arguing in favour of an acquittal, John claimed that Ramani was singled out and targeted by MJ Akbar, who faced an avalanche of accusations from several women during the MeToo movement that sparked off in 2018. .The filing of the defamation suit was attempt was to create a chilling effect, she said. "MJ Akbar went after Ramani because she was a soft and vulnerable target...The object is to harass...Selective prosecution must be deprecated. The prosecution that chooses to target Priya Ramani to target other women should get no relief", John remarked today. .During the course of her submissions, John also contended that given the volume of sexual harassment disclosures by multiple women on social media, there was also no evidence of MJ Akbar's "stellar reputation" which was claimed to be tarnished by Ramani..MJ Akbar, on the other hand, maintained that allegations made by Ramani "stink of bad faith" and were nothing but malicious..Senior Advocate Geeta Luthra contended that Ramani failed to discharge the onus of proving the defence pleaded by her..It was added that in the absence of any complaint to any court or authority, MJ Akbar could not be subjected to a social trial, without the exercise of any due care and caution. .The senior counsel also extensively argued that Ramani's conduct of deleting her Twitter account during the course of the trial amounted to the destruction of evidence, which was an offence under the Indian Penal Code..Criminal defamation is an offence punishable with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both..After hearing the parties, the Court proceeded to reserve its verdict, which will be pronounced on February 10..Read a complete account of today's hearing here:.MJ Akbar v. Priya Ramani: Delhi Court reserves orders [Live Updates]