Delhi court to pronounce verdict in MJ Akbar's defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani on Feb 17

Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday deferred the hearing till February 17 in the criminal defamation case filed against journalist Priya Ramani by former Union Minister MJ Akbar.

Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday deferred the hearing till February 17 in the criminal defamation case filed against journalist Priya Ram by former Union Minister MJ Akbar.

The court, which was set to pronounce the judgement today, will now pronounce the verdict in the case on February 17.

The court recently had kept the judgement reserved after both of the parties concluded the final arguments in the matter.

Defending her case, Ram's lawyer and Senior Advocate Rebecca John urged the court to acquit her client while Akbar's lawyer and Senior Advocate Geeta Luthra stressed that Akbar image was tarnished due to allegation levelled by Ram.

Senior Advocate John told the court that Ram's Twitter account was deactivated and can be activated on the court's direction. Senior Advocate John also questioned that the complainant for not filing any a single application to direct her client to reactivate her Twitter account.

Senior Advocate Luthra said that if Ram makes a defamatory statement after so many years, then it is her onus to prove the truth.

MJ Akbar, while advancing her final argument had questioned Journalist Priya Ram and said she has destroyed evidence in the defamation case against her by deleting her Twitter account, which is a criminal offence.

MJ Akbar, the former Minister of State for External Affairs, had filed a defamation case against the journalist Priya Ram for accusing him of sexual misconduct.

Ram was the first woman to accuse Akbar of sexual harassment during the #MeToo campaign. The allegations levelled against him forced him to resign from the Union Cabinet on 17 October 2018.

( With inputs from ANI )