Indian minister loses #MeToo defamation case

Former Indian minister MJ Akbar has lost his defamation case against a female journalist who named him as part of the #MeToo movement two years ago.

Priya Ramani’s allegations against him were followed by many women accusing him of alleged “predatory conduct”.

The former newspaper editor stepped down from his post as junior foreign minister after the scandal.

He sued Ms Ramani, saying her accusations had impacted his “stellar reputation”.

Ms Ramani, who had described him as “a predator”, the “media’s biggest sexual predator” and “as talented a predator as a writer” said in court that her defence was “truth and public good” and that Mr Akbar’s reputation was “flawed”.

A celebrated editor and author-turned-politician, Mr Akbar was the most high-profile figure to be named in India’s #MeToo movement.

He denied all the allegations and threatened to sue his other accusers as well – but two years later, he’s yet to do so.

The BBC’s Geeta Pandey in Delhi says Wednesday’s judgement by the court in the capital is extremely significant as it will set a precedent for other cases resulting from the #MeToo movement in India. It will serve as encouragement to other victims and survivors to take on their abusers.