New Delhi, 16 December (H.S.): In a significant procedural move, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday expedited the hearing of former Union Minister M J Akbar's appeal contesting journalist Priya Ramani's acquittal in a high-profile criminal defamation suit stemming from her #MeToo allegations of sexual misconduct.

Justice Ravinder Dudeja granted Akbar's urgent application, advancing the date from May 7, 2026, to March 16, 2026, despite counsel's plea for an even earlier February slot. This development follows the case's recent transfer to the MP/MLA bench in September 2025, recognizing Akbar's status as a former parliamentarian, with prior listings including October 15.

The protracted litigation originated in 2018 when Akbar, then a senior BJP leader, filed the defamation complaint after Ramani publicly accused him of predatory behavior during a 1990s job interview, detailed in her Vogue article and Twitter posts.

A Rouse Avenue trial court acquitted Ramani on February 17, 2021, upholding her right to voice workplace grievances on any platform, even years later, and prioritizing dignity over reputation in instances of systemic harassment.

Akbar's 2021 appeal, admitted by the High Court in January 2022, contends the lower court's verdict relied on speculation, misconstrued the matter as sexual harassment rather than defamation, and overlooked key evidence.

Represented by Karanjawala & Co., Akbar argues the ruling undermines defamation law principles. This acceleration injects fresh momentum into a case emblematic of India's #MeToo reckoning, where women's testimonies clashed with powerful figures' reputational claims, as hearings now loom in early spring.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar