New Delhi: Former union minister MJ Akbar on Tuesday submitted before a Delhi court that the statements made against him by journalist Priya Ramani were defamatory, were widely disseminated, and lowered his reputation.
Senior advocate Geeta Luthra, appearing for Akbar, told the court that the former minister by his continuous hard work had become the editor in a short period of time and no one has ever cast any aspersion on his character ever.
Akbar's lawyer also cited testimonies of witnesses to prove that Akbar had an impeccable reputation and said that Ramani's statements were defamatory and it has lowered Akbar's reputation and were widely disseminated. She also said that allegations against her clients are unfounded and made without any care and caution.
Stressing that Akbar's years-long reputation can't be tarnished in such a manner, the lawyer said that there was nothing on record including CCTV footage, landline details, parking receipts to justify the allegations leveled against her client.
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As the hearing remained inconclusive, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vishal Pahuja, who was hearing the final arguments in the defamation case, listed the matter for continuing rebuttal arguments on Wednesday.
MJ Akbar, a former Minister of State for External Affairs, had filed a defamation case against the journalist Priya Ramani for accusing him of sexual misconduct.
Akbar had on October 17, 2018, resigned as the union minister after his name cropped up on social media as the '#MeToo' campaign raged on in India. Ramani had accused Akbar of sexual misconduct, a charge denied by him.
ANI
