The Delhi High Court on Friday allowed former Union Minister M.J. Akbar’s plea seeking an early hearing of his appeal challenging a trial court order acquitting journalist Priya Ramani in a criminal defamation case filed by him over her allegations of sexual harassment. The High Court has listed the appeal for hearing on April 26.
In his application, Mr. Akbar said that he was a senior citizen and a senior journalist. He noted that two years have passed since the filing of his appeal and urged the court for an early hearing. On January 13, 2022, the High Court agreed to examine Mr. Akbar’s appeal against the trial court order and admitted the appeal. It has also issued a notice to Ms. Ramani in the case.
Ms. Ramani’s counsel said that the only grounds mentioned in the application for an expeditious hearing of the appeal is that Mr. Akbar is still aggrieved by the alleged defamation caused in 2018 for which Ms. Ramani has already faced trial and has been acquitted by the trial court.
