Journalist Priya Ramani first made the allegations in a 2017 Vogue India article, in which she described suffering harassment during a job interview with an unnamed editor in a Mumbai hotel room.
A year later, he identified the unnamed publisher as MJ Akbar, a former journalist who was then a junior foreign minister. It caused more than a dozen women to file complaints against Akbar for palpation, assault and harassment.
He denied the allegations, resigned from his role and sued Ramani for defamation a week after he publicly identified him.
On Wednesday – more than two years after the lawsuit was filed – the court ruled in Ramani’s favor, acquitting her of all charges. In a powerful final statement, Judge Ravindra Kumar Pandey argued that the country and its institutions have long failed women and victims of abuse, and defended Ramani’s right to appear even for decades. after the incident.
“Despite the respect some people have for society, in their personal lives they can show extreme cruelty to women,” Pandey wrote in his sentence. “The time has come for our society to understand sexual abuse and harassment and its implications for victims.”
“Women cannot be punished for raising their voices against sexual abuse on the pretext of a criminal complaint for defamation, as the right to reputation cannot be protected at the expense of a woman’s right to life and dignity, as India’s Constitution is guaranteed, “he added.
Ramani and her supporters celebrated the decision, praising it as a step forward for women in India.
“I can’t stop smiling today,” Ramani said in a statement sent to CNN by his lawyer. “This case was not about me, but about what women face in the workplace. My victory is for everyone who spoke during the #metoo movement.
“It’s amazing to validate your truth in a court of law.”
His lawyer, Rebecca John, called the sentence a “surprising trial.”
“We are very grateful that the court has passed the tests meticulously,” he said. “I think it’s a very important moment for all of us. It’s a fantastic moment.”
#MeToo movement from India
There followed a series of allegations of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior that shook the media and entertainment industries in India.
In a well-known case, former Bollywood actress Tanushree Dutta spoke publicly about being the victim of an assault allegedly at the hands of a former co-star in 2008. In an independent incident, a Bollywood production house was disbanded. following allegations of sexual harassment against its co-founders.
A popular comedy costume popular among Indian millennials was also shaken when a comedian he worked with faced accusations of harassment. In the media industry, a political journalist also lost his position after allegations of misconduct, pending an internal investigation.
But the allegations have also sparked several defamation lawsuits similar to the one Akbar filed against Ramani. In India, if a defamation case is filed in the criminal court, the accused convicted can receive prison sentences of up to two years, a result that adds an extra layer for the victims to appear.