MJ Akbar v. Priya Ramani: Patiala House court takes cognizance in Criminal Defamation case [Live Updates]

The Patiala House court has taken cognizance of offence under Section 499 of the Indian Penal Code in the criminal defamation case filed by former Union Minister MJ Akbar against journalist Priya Ramani..Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Samar Vishal heard Senior Advocate Geeta Luthra who appeared for Akbar, before ordering that he is taking cognizance of offence of criminal defamation under the IPC..The matter is now listed for hearing on October 31 at 12 pm..Live updates from the court given below:.– Senior Counsel Geeta Luthra arguing on behalf of MJ Akbar along with team from Karanjawala..– “Let’s take a look at the defamatory statements/tweets. If the content is defamatory then let’s take it forward”, Judge Samar Vishal..– Geeta Luthra begins reading out the tweets put out by journalist Priya Ramani indicting Akbar for sexual misconduct..– “It (tweet) is clearly defamatory. It is lowering my reputation. It is years and years after what she claims these events took place”, Geeta Luthra.. – Geeta Luthra submits that the tweet has had a wide reach based on the number of retweets the content received..– Karanjawala Partner Sandeep Kapur adds to the submissions and brings to the Court’s notice that the said tweet was picked up by media (print and electronic) and circulated further.. – Geeta Luthra now argues on cause of action and Jurisdiction. For cause of action, it is sufficient to show that it was read by a few right-thinking persons.. – Luthra highlights the professional history of MJ Akbar to establish his reputation, which has now been tarnished according to the complainant..– Order being dictated by judge Samar Vishal..– “I have gone through the complaint and other documents annexed. I take cognizance of the offence under section 500 of the IPC” Judge Samar Vishal..– The matter is fixed for examination of complainant and his witnesses for October 31 at 12 noon..MJ Akbar had filed a criminal defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani under Section 499 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)..Akbar approached the Patiala House Court claiming that the allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct levelled against him are “false, frivolous, unjustifiable and scandalous”..Akbar, who was the Minister of State for External Affairs, resigned from his post on Wednesday, citing his will to pursue the legal route in this matter “in his personal capacity”. The resignation came three days after Akbar had refused to step down from his position and had issued a statement denying all allegations..The criminal defamation case against Priya Ramani was filed on Tuesday, October 16, in the Patiala House Court. Akbar has claimed that the sexual harassment allegations are a part of an agenda in the run up to the General Elections and have caused a loss to his damage and reputation..“…the Accused has made and published highly damaging imputations against the Complainant herein, intending to harm and knowing that such imputation will harm, the reputation of the Complainant, resultantly having committed the offence of ‘defamation’ as defined under Section 499 IPC and made punishable under Section 500 IPC.”.The complaint has been filed through Senior Partner of Karanjawala & Co, Sandeep Kapur..A number of women have levelled allegations of sexual misconduct against MJ Akbar, who has been the Editor of various publications including The Telegraph and The Asian Age. Apart from Ramani, some of the other woman journalists to recount instances of Akbar’s misconduct include Ghazala Wahab, Suparna Sharma, and Harinder Baweja.