MJ Akbar v. Priya Ramani: Timeline of hearings from October 2018 till February 2021

After a trial of almost two years, a Delhi Court will pronounce its verdict in MJ Akbar's defamation case against Priya Ramani on Wednesday, February 17. .In October of 2018, Ramani had accused the then Union Minister of sexual harassment. .Ramani took to Twitter to allege that in 1993, Akbar sexually harassed her when she was called to Mumbai's Oberoi Hotel for a job interview..Shortly thereafter, Akbar moved a Delhi Court with his defamation complaint against Ramani. .Senior Advocate Geeta Luthra appeared for MJ Akbar. Priya Ramani was represented by Senior Advocate Rebecca John. .Here is a list of the hearings that transpired before the Court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate from October 2018 till date. .October 15, 2018: MJ Akbar filed the defamation case against Priya Ramani.October 18, 2018: The Court took cognizance of the criminal defamation complaint.October 30, 2018: MJ Akbar testified before Court, said that since he chose to seek justice in his personal capacity, he resigned from his post as Minister of State..November 2018 - January 2019: The Court recorded statement of MJ Akbar's witnesses i.e. Joyeeta Basu, Sunil Gujral, Veenu Sandal, Tapan Chaki, Manzar Ali and Rachna Goel. All witnesses deposed that Akbar’s reputation has been lowered in their eyes..January 22, 2019: The Court reserved order on summoning Priya Ramani as an accused. January 29, 2019: The Court summoned Priya Ramani in the defamation case filed against her by former Union Minister MJ Akbar.February 25, 2019: The Court granted bail to Priya Ramani. .April 10, 2019: Priya Ramani pleaded not guilty..May 4, 2019: MJ Akbar appeared before the Court for his post-summoning evidence. He was cross-examined by Senior Counsel for Ramani. .May 20, 2019 and July 6, 2019: Senior Counsel for Ramani continued to cross-examine MJ Akbar. .July 2019- August 2019: MJ Akbar's witnesses sans Rachna Goel appeared before the Court for the post-summoning evidence. Their deposition was followed by cross-examination by senior counsel for Ramani..August 23, 2019: Priya Ramani deposed as an accused before the Court under Section 313 CrPC. She said her allegedly defamatory tweet was not malafide or deeply offensive..September 7, 2019: Priya Ramani testified as the first defence witness. September 9, 2019: Priya Ramani concluded her statement. She was cross-examined by Senior Counsel for MJ Akbar. October 25, 2019: Priya Ramani's second witness Niloufer Venkatraman deposed before Court. November 21, 2019: Both Priya Ramani and Niloufer Venkatraman were cross-examined by Senior Counsel for MJ Akbar..December 2019: Priya Ramani's third witness, Ghazala Wahab deposed before Court. She was cross-examined by Senior Counsel for MJ Akbar. .February 7, 2020: Senior Counsel for MJ Akbar began final submissions before Court as it was argued that India could not be permitted to be a social media country..February 28, 2020: Senior Counsel for MJ Akbar continued with the submissions. It was argued that the allegations by Priya Ramani were per se defamatory. February 29, 2020: Senior Counsel for MJ Akbar concluded her submissions. It was argued that educated people like journalists have to act responsibly..March to August 2020: Court proceedings disrupted due to COVID-19 pandemic..September 5, 2020: Senior Counsel for Ramani began her submissions. She argued that Priya Ramani's tweets and the Vogue article were truth. September 8, 2020: Submissions continued on behalf of Priya Ramani. Senior Counsel for Priya Ramani argued that MJ Akbar did not have a stellar reputation and the allegations stood validated by the combined experience of multiple women who levelled similar accusations..September 14, 2020: Delhi Court continued to hear final submissions on behalf of Priya Ramani who contended that MJ Akbar’s witnesses were unreliable. September 19, 2020: Senior Counsel for Priya Ramani concluded her submissions. The Court was told that Priya Ramani was a "small part of a large movement" in which hundreds and thousands of women participated and called out the sexually coloured behaviour of their male bosses..October 13, 2020: Since the defamation case was not "against" any MP or MLA, the Court which acts as a Special Court for MP/MLAs opined that MJ Akbar's defamation case against Priya Ramani needed to be transferred..October 14, 2020: District & Sessions Judge, Rouse Avenue, New Delhi reserved order on the issue of transfer of MJ Akbar's defamation case..October 22, 2020: District & Sessions Judge, Rouse Avenue refused to transfer MJ Akbar's defamation case against Priya Ramani..November 10, 2020: Delhi Court began hearing rejoinder submissions by Senior Counsel for MJ Akbar. November 18, 2020: Delhi High Court notified the transfer and posting of 215 judicial officers including the judge hearing MJ Akbar's defamation case..November 21, 2020: New judge asked MJ Akbar and Priya Ramani if there was any scope of a settlement in the criminal defamation case. November 24, 2020: Priya Ramani told Court that there was no chance of arriving at a settlement. Senior counsel for MJ Akbar began final submissions afresh. December 2, 2020: Senior Counsel for Priya Ramani began final submissions afresh. It was argued that the disclosure was made in good faith, for public good. December 5, 2020: Senior Counsel for Priya Ramani continued with her submissions. December 10, 2020: Senior Counsel for Priya Ramani argued that MJ Akbar was shying away from the incident of the hotel room as narrated by Priya Ramani in her Vogue article and testimony..MJ Akbar shying away from hotel room incident, has shown great anxiety: Rebecca John argues for Priya Ramani before Delhi Court.December 14, 2020: Senior Counsel for Priya Ramani told the Court that her disclosure required celebration, not defamation..December 18, 2020: Senior Counsel for Priya Ramani argued that a fraud had been played upon the court as he hid the fact that several other women had accused him of sexual harassment. December 22, 2020: Senior Counsel for MJ Akbar began her rejoinder submissions. She submitted that the only issue for consideration before the Court was the damage to MJ Akbar's reputation by Priya Ramani..Not a sexual harassment case: Geeta Luthra argues for MJ Akbar before Delhi Court in defamation case against Priya Ramani.December 24, 2020: Senior Counsel for MJ Akbar said that the hotel meeting as alleged by Priya Ramani is denied..January 4, 2021: Senior Counsel for MJ Akbar continued with rejoinder submissions. January 7, 2021: Senior Counsel for MJ Akbar contended that Priya Ramani was the first to make defamatory allegations against MJ Akbar. January 12, 2021: Senior Counsel for MJ Akbar argued that to say Priya Ramani had no legal remedy in 90s was ex facie untenable as IPC existed since 1860. January 14, 2021: Senior Counsel for MJ Akbar submitted that Priya Ramani had built an imaginary story and made bald, vague pleas in defence. January 18, 2021: Senior Counsel for MJ Akbar continued with her rejoinder submissions as she claimed that harm done by the person who ignites the first flame. January 21, 2021: Rejoinder submissions continued with Senior Counsel for MJ Akbar contending that allegations were made against MJ Akbar for the first time after he joined BJP. January 23, 2021: Social media trial is unacceptable in a country governed by rule of law, Senior Counsel for MJ Akbar further argued. January 27, 2021: Senior Counsel for MJ Akbar concluded her rebuttal submissions. .Reputation of 50 years irreparably harmed, Priya Ramani should be punished: Senior Adv Geeta Luthra concludes for MJ Akbar before Delhi Court.February 1: Senior Counsel for Priya Ramani responded to the rejoinder submissions. Court reserved order for pronouncement on Februray 10. .February 10: In a rather anti-climactic turn of events, the verdict in the defamation case was deferred till February 17.

MJ Akbar v. Priya Ramani: Timeline of hearings from October 2018 till February 2021

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