New Delhi, May 5: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday said it will call for the trial court records in connection with the defamation case filed by former Union minister M J Akbar’s against journalist Priya Ramani who had accused him of sexual harassment.
The trial court had acquitted Ramani by dismissing Akbar’s defamation complaint. Justice Mukta Gupta said she will call for the trial court records and listed Akbar’s appeal against Ramani’s acquittal for hearing on August 11.
During the brief hearing, the Akbar’s lawyer said the trial court judgement was “perverse”. Akbar has challenged the trial court’s February 17 order acquitting Ramani in the case on grounds that a woman has the right to put grievances before any platform of her choice even after decades.
The trial court had dismissed the complaint filed by Akbar, saying no charges were proved against Ramani. It had said it was of the considered view that the case of Akbar regarding commission of offence punishable under Section 500 (punishment for the offence of defamation) IPC against Ramani is not proved and she is acquitted for the same. (PTI)
