MJ Akbar files defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani who alleged him of sexual harassment

He had termed the allegations as fabricated and deeply distressing and linked them to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, on Sunday.

M J Akbar: Union minister M J Akbar, who has been accused by several women journalists of sexual harassment.Photo: AFP

New Delhi: Union Minister M J Akbar on Monday filed a defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani who was one among the several women who leveled sexual harassment allegations on him. Akbar, through his advocates Karanjawala and Company filed the case in Delhi's Patiala House. Akbar who returned to India ensnared in sexual harassment allegations on Sunday refuted all the charges against leveled by a number of women as “false”and "fabricated". Talking about Priya Ramani, he said in a statement yesterday: "She began this campaign a year ago with a magazine article. She did not, however, name me as she knew it was an incorrect story. When asked recently why she had not named me, she replied, in a Tweet: Never named him because he didn't 'do' anything." "If I didn't do anything, where and what is the story? There's no story. But a sea of innuendo, speculation and abusive diatribe has been built around something that never happened. Some are total, unsubstantiated hearsay; others confirm, on the record, that I didn’t do anything," he said.

Union Minister #MJAkbar files criminal defamation case in Delhi's Patiala House Court against journalist Priya Ramani who levelled sexual harassment allegations against himhttps://t.co/DklVA2kRqn

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) October 15, 2018

As Akbar returned from a trip to Africa mediapersons huddled around him for his statement on the allegations. Akbar ,however, denied to make any statement immediately. Hours later he issued a statement, virtually rejecting the clamour for his resignation from the post of Union Minister of State for External Affairs. He termed the allegations as fabricated and deeply distressing and linked them to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Akbar said he was taking appropriate legal action against the accusers. He said in the statement "The allegations of misconduct made against me are false and fabricated, spiced up by innuendo and malice. I could not reply earlier as I was on an official tour abroad," he said in the statement. Accusation without evidence has become a viral fever among some sections. Whatever be the case, now that I have returned, my lawyers will look into these wild and baseless allegations in order to decide our future course of legal action. “He said the “false, baseless and wild allegations have caused irreparable damage" to his reputation, and wondered why "this storm has risen" a few months before the general election? However the tirade seeking his resignation continued in the opposition party Congress. Before Akbar issued the statement, the Congress, at a press conference, questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the allegations against the junior minister and said as the head of the government he should speak on the issue. WATCH: