The additional Metropolitan Chief Magistrate (ACMM), Ravinder Dubey, raised the issue of the settlement again with lawyers for MJ Akbar and Priya Ramani on Tuesday and both parties stated that they were unwilling to initiate any in the ongoing criminal defamation complaint filed. by the old union. minister against journalist.
The final arguments of the case are being heard again by ACMM Dubey after its predecessor was transferred last week.
In a routine transfer of district court judges last week, Pandey replaced Vishal Pahuja in the Rouse Avenue courthouse, which is designated to hear cases against MPs and legislators.
Both Akbar’s and Ramani’s attorneys had completed their closing arguments in the case, and the order had not yet been reserved.
Read also | #MeToo: court asks MJ Akbar and Ramani if there is scope to settle defamation case
Akbar’s criminal defamation lawsuit in connection with an accusation of sexual harassment made by Ramani in October 2018 was heard by judges Samar Vishal and later, Vishal Pahuja. However, the case did not have to be known again at any time.
Akbar’s chief advocate, Geeta Luthra, said that if Ramani were to apologize for her allegations, she would ask her client to consider closing the complaint. Ramani’s lawyer, Bhavook Chauhan, on the other hand, said that the defendant stayed true to his statement and that if Akbar wanted to withdraw the complaint, he can do so.
Ramani’s allegations against Akbar were made in the wake of the #MeToo movement in 2018. She had said in previous closing arguments that they were her truth and were made in good faith and for the public good.
However, in his closing arguments Tuesday, Luthra said that Ramani’s tweets and articles were defamatory per se.
ACMM Pandey, who began to hear the final arguments of the case again, had asked both parties on Saturday if there was a possibility of an agreement between them in the matter.
(With PTI inputs)
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