Ramani’s allegations defamatory, mala fide: Akbar

May 4, 2019
New Delhi: In a heated exchange between lawyers of both parties, former Union Minister M.J. Akbar recorded his statement in a Delhi court on Saturday saying that the allegations levelled by journalist Priya Ramani against him were defamatory and mala fide.

The court was hearing the defamation case against Ramani filed by the former Minister of State for External Affairs, who is now with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Ramani was the first in a long list of female journalists to accuse Akbar, a journalist-turned-politician, of sexual harassment.

On Saturday, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal began examining Akbar’s statement in the case.

During Akbar’s examination by his counsel Geeta Luthra, the politician said that allegations levelled by Ramani were highly offensive, mala fide, false and fabricated.

“Ramani’s tweet had adversely affected my reputation,” Akbar told the court.

Meanwhile, the two-hour-long hearing witnessed several interruptions as Luthra raised objections on various questions asked by Ramani’s counsel Rebecca John while cross-examining Akbar.

However, the court allowed John to proceed, saying it was a criminal defamation case and “she has the liberty to defend herself”.

When advocate John asked Akbar whether he asked Ramani to meet him at The Oberoi hotel in Mumbai’s Nariman Point when she had gone for an interview at The Asian Age newspapers’s office there in December 1993, he replied that he could not recollect the incident.

Ramani’s counsel also asked Akbar questions related to his political connections and raised queries over his ideology, saying that he had changed it several times in the course of his political career.

Akbar won the elections from Bihar’s Kishanganj constituency in 1989 as a Congress candidate and lost the polls from the same seat in 1991.

In response, he said it was wrong to suggest that this behaviour reflects his “political opportunism”.

Advocate John also asked about the contempt notice issued against Akbar by the Delhi High Court in 2003 for reporting false report of court proceedings, to which he replied that he did not remember.

Akbar’s counsel said that John’s questions were irrelevant and raised objections against them.

As the examination of Akbar remained incomplete, the court listed the matter for the further hearing on May 20.

IANS

Delhi HC admits CBI’s appeal against acquittal of A Raja, others in 2G spectrum case

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday admitted the appeal moved by the CBI challenging the 2017 trial court order acquitting key accused, including former Telecom Minister A. Raja...

Kejriwal kingpin of alleged excise policy scam, non-cooperative in investigation: ED

New Delhi: Arrested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is the kingpin of the alleged excise policy scam and is directly involved in its implementation and giving favours to the 'South...

ED raids residence of Bengal Minister Chandranath Sinha

Kolkata: A team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths on Friday was at the residence of West Bengal Minister of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises and Textiles Department Chandranath Sinha...

Kejriwal withdraws petition from SC against ED arrest

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has been taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the liquor policy case, withdrew his plea filed before the Supreme...

We’re going to take serious view: SC rebukes TN Guv for refusing to administer oath to Ponmudi as minister

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday took strong exception to Tamil Nadu Governor’s refusal to administer the oath to K Ponmudi as a minister in the state Cabinet. “What...

SC stays Centre’s notification establishing Fact Checking Unit (FCU) to address fake news

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed a notification issued by the Centre establishing Fact Checking Unit (FCU) under the Press Information Bureau (PIB) to prevent fake, false or...

ED files charge sheet against Karti Chidambaram, others in Chinese visa scam case

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a charge sheet before the Special PMLA Court in Delhi against Karti P. Chidambaram and his former Chartered Accountant S. Bhaskararaman in...

SBI files fresh compliance affidavit in SC disclosing all details of Electoral Bonds

New Delhi: In a latest affidavit filed on Wednesday, the State Bank of India (SBI) told the Supreme Court that it has disclosed all the details of the Electoral Bonds...

CM Kejriwal likely to skip ED’s 9th summons, moves Delhi HC for protection

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is likely to skip Enforcement Directorate’s ninth summons issued in connection with the now-scrapped excise policy case, said the AAP sources. This decision...

Delhi HC summons Mahua Moitra in defamation suit by former partner Jai Anant Dehadrai

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has issued summons to Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra in a defamation suit filed by lawyer and former partner Jai Anant Dehadrai. Earlier this...

Delhi HC seeks ED’s reply on maintainability of CM Kejriwal’s plea against summonses

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the ED to reply on maintainability of Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging the agency's nine summonses issued to him...

Misleading ads by Patanjali: SC summons Baba Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishna

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday summoned for personal presence Yogrishi Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved's Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna. A Bench headed by Justice Hima Kohli noted that...

Read Previous

Indian expat wins $4 million Abu Dhabi raffle

Read Next

Bua-babua’ partnership will end on May 23: Adityanath

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

WP2Social Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com