#Metoo: Akbar's statement to be recorded on October 31

New Delhi: A Delhi court Thursday agreed to hear the criminal defamation case filed by M J Akbar against journalist Priya Ramani, who has accused him of sexual harassment around 20 years ago, and will record the statement of the former union minister on October 31.

Taking cognisance of the complaint, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal heard the submissions of senior advocate Geeta Luthra, representing Akbar, that the "controversial" tweets and identical social media posts of Ramani caused irreparable loss to his reputation built over 40 years.

"Let the matter be fixed for examination of the complainant (Akbar) and his witnesses for October 31," the magistrate said. Akbar, 67, was not present in the court.

A criminal defamation case, as against a civil defamation case, is significant as an accused could be sent to jail if found guilty. Section 500 of the IPC provides for the sentence for the offence of defamation, and an accused may be awarded two-year jail term or fine or both.

In a related development, the Editors Guild of India asked Akbar to withdraw the defamation case and came out in support of the women journalists who accused him of sexual harassment.

The Guild also offered legal support to women journalists who levelled the allegations against Akbar in case he does not withdraw the present case or files such cases against other women too.

Ramani was the first one to call out Akbar and publicly accuse him of inappropriate behaviour.

Over the past ten days, at least 20 women have come forward to narrate their experiences of alleged sexual harassment at the hands of Akbar during his days as editor of several mainstream publications.

During the 20-minute-long court hearing in the Patiala House courts complex, Luthra, a senior lawyer, referred to the sequence of events and said Akbar resigned from the post of Minister of State for External Affairs on Wednesday following these allegations and this showed the extent of damage.