New Delhi, March 16 The Delhi High Court on Monday fixed a date for the final hearing in the case challenging the acquittal of journalist Priya Ramani in the criminal defamation case filed against former Union minister M J Akbar, in which she was accused of sexual misconduct. The hearing is scheduled for September 24.
"We have received the record from the trial court. Written submissions have been filed by both sides. The matter is listed for final hearing on the next date," said Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma.
Akbar has challenged the trial court's order of February 17, 2021, acquitting Ramani, arguing that a woman has the right to raise grievances on any platform, even after decades.
The high court, on January 13, 2022, agreed to examine Akbar's appeal against the trial court's order and admitted it, after which a notice was issued to Ramani in August 2021.
In his appeal, Akbar has contended that the trial court based its decision on assumptions and conjecture.
He argued that the trial court failed to consider the arguments and evidence presented.
Akbar also claimed that the trial court "gravely erred" in stating that he did not have a good reputation and ignored established principles of criminal law.
The trial court had dismissed Akbar's defamation complaint and acquitted Ramani, stating that no evidence had been presented against her.
The trial court had also expressed its dismay that crimes against women were taking place in a country where great epics like the "Mahabharata" and "Ramayana" were written about respecting women.
Ramani had made allegations of sexual misconduct against Akbar in the wake of the #MeToo movement in 2018.
Akbar filed a complaint against Ramani on October 15, 2018, accusing her of defaming him by alleging sexual misconduct decades ago.
He resigned as a Union minister on October 17, 2018.
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MNK
MNK