In a significant procedural development regarding the high-profile criminal defamation case stemming from the #MeToo movement, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday advanced the hearing date for former Union Minister M.J. Akbar’s appeal challenging the acquittal of journalist Priya Ramani.
Justice Ravinder Dudeja allowed an application moved by Akbar seeking an earlier date for the proceedings. The matter, originally scheduled for hearing on May 7, 2026, has now been listed for March 16.
During the proceedings, counsel representing M.J. Akbar urged the court to schedule the matter for February, seeking an expedited hearing. However, the counsel appearing for Priya Ramani submitted that while they did not object to the application for advancing the date, there was no immediate urgency in the matter, suggesting a date in March would be appropriate.
Taking the submissions into record, Justice Dudeja advanced the hearing from May next year to March 16.
The legal battle dates back to the #MeToo wave in India in 2018. M.J. Akbar has challenged the trial court’s order dated February 17, 2021, which acquitted Ramani in the criminal defamation case filed by him.
The Delhi High Court had admitted Akbar’s appeal on January 13, 2022. The court had previously issued notice to Ramani in August 2021 regarding the plea.
In his appeal, the former minister has contended that the trial court’s judgment was based on “surmises and conjecture.” Akbar’s plea argues that the trial court failed to properly appreciate the arguments and evidence placed on record, leading to an erroneous acquittal.
The case originated on October 15, 2018, when M.J. Akbar filed a criminal defamation complaint against Priya Ramani. This action was taken after Ramani accused him of sexual misconduct allegedly committed decades ago. Following the allegations and the subsequent legal and public fervor, Akbar resigned from his post as Union Minister on October 17, 2018.
The February 2021 verdict by the trial court was widely viewed as a landmark decision regarding women’s rights in India. While dismissing the defamation complaint, the trial court held that a woman has the right to put her grievances before any platform of her choice, even after decades.
The trial court judge had observed that it was “shameful” that crimes against women were taking place in a country where epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana were written to uphold respect for women. Consequently, the court ruled that no charges were proved against Ramani, leading to her acquittal.
The High Court will now hear the arguments regarding the validity of this acquittal in March.
