"Court Decided On Ram, Ravan": MJ Akbar Challenges Priya Ramani Acquittal

Challenging the order in Priya Ramani case, MJ Akbar also claimed that the trial court "gravely erred" in observing that he did not have a stellar reputation.

The Delhi High Court Wednesday sought journalist Priya Ramani's stand on former Union minister M J Akbar's appeal against a trial court verdict in his criminal defamation case against her over sexual harassment allegations on the grounds that it was "based on surmises and conjecture". The trial court decided the case as though it was a sexual harassment case instead of the defamation case he had filed against her, MJ Akbar has told the high court in his appeal. "The impugned judgement, being based on surmises and conjecture, cannot stand muster even from a prima facie view, and therefore, is liable to be set aside," MJ Akbar has said. Justice Mukta Gupta issued notice to Ms Ramani on the appeal and listed it for further hearing on January 13.