Delhi court on Wednesday summoned senior journalist Priya Ramani in a criminal defamation case filed by former Union Minister M.J. Akbar. The court has summoned her on February 25.
It summoned her after recording of pre summoning evidence of Mr. Akbar and the witnesses cited by him in the complaint. All the witnesses gave evidence in his favour. The court had reserved the order on January 23.
Ms. Ramani has allegedly accused Mr. Akbar of sexually assaulting women journalists. Mr. Akbar has sought Ms. Ramani’s prosecution for “wilfully, deliberately, intentionally and maliciously defaming” him.
In his complaint, Mr. Akbar cited an open letter by Ms. Ramani published in Vogue magazine last October and her tweets naming him. He sought her prosecution under Section 499 (defamation) and punishable under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code. The offence attracts a simple imprisonment of two years or fine or both.