A Delhi court on Monday granted bail to journalist Priya Ramani, who was summoned as an accused in a defamation case filed by former Union minister M J Akbar after she levelled allegations of sexual misconduct against him.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal granted the bail on a bond of Rs 10,000.
The next hearing is scheduled on April 10.
Ramani’s lawyer Rebecca John slammed Akbar for not being present in court, pointing out that the complainant is required to appear in court on each day of hearing in a complaint case.
Also Read: Priya Ramani Summoned By Delhi Court in Defamation Case Filed By Rape-accused MJ Akbar
Speaking to NewsCentral24x7 after the hearing, Ramani said, “It is time to tell our story. Truth is my defence.”
Ramani had accused Akbar of sexual misconduct around 20 years ago when he was a journalist.
His name cropped up on social media as the #MeToo campaign raged on in India last year. Akbar had to resign from the Union Council of Ministers on October 17,
Although over 20 women had come out with accounts of alleged sexual harassment by Akbar, he chose to file a defamation case against only Ramani which was widely-criticised as an intimidation tactic.
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