<p>Former union minister M J Akbar on Saturday reiterated before a Delhi court that the allegations of sexual misconduct made by journalist Priya Ramani against him were "fabricated and false".</p>.<p>Akbar made the submission before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ravindra Kumar through senior advocate Geeta Luthra during the final hearing in a criminal complaint filed by him against Ramani for allegedly defaming him by accusing him of sexual misconduct decades ago.</p>.<p>Ramani had made the allegation of sexual misconduct against Akbar in 2018 during the #MeToo movement.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/metoo-another-case-can-be-made-against-ramani-for-deleting-her-twitter-account-akbar-tells-court-941626.html" target="_blank">#MeToo: Another case can be made against Ramani for deleting her Twitter account, Akbar tells court</a></strong></p>.<p>Luthra said that Ramani “removing the tweet when the matter was sub-judice was (in) bad faith“.</p>.<p>“You (Ramani) can't make allegations on social media without any care and caution or responsibility after 20-30 years,” she said.</p>.<p>She added that after first saying that “Akbar didn't do anything, you call him media's biggest predator”.</p>.<p>Luthra argued that Ramani had raised contradictory defence.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/priya-ramani-ignited-flame-to-harm-his-reputation-m-j-akbar-tells-court-940410.html" target="_blank">Priya Ramani ignited flame to harm his reputation, M J Akbar tells court</a></strong></p>.<p>“You didn't feel the requirement of evidence of landline record, hotel, petrol receipt, CCTV. It (Ramani's claim of Akbar's sexual misconduct in a hotel) is complete hearsay, fabricated and false,” Luthra said</p>.<p>She said that Nilofer, Ramani's friend and a key witness in the case, was not an eyewitness.</p>.<p>The court will further hear the matter on January 27.</p>.<p>Akbar had filed the criminal defamation complaint against Ramani on October 15, 2018. He resigned as union minister on October 17, 2018.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="#MeToo: Ramani had no right to accuse me of sexual harassment as she had no proof, Akbar tells court Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/national/metoo-ramani-had-no-right-to-accuse-me-of-sexual-harassment-as-she-had-no-proof-akbar-tells-court-938951.html" target="_blank">#MeToo: Ramani had no right to accuse me of sexual harassment as she had no proof, Akbar tells court</a></strong></p>.<p>Akbar had earlier told the court that Ramani had defamed him by calling him with adjectives such as "media's biggest predator" that harmed his reputation.</p>.<p>He has denied all the allegations of sexual harassment he faced from the women who came forward during the #MeToo campaign.</p>.<p>Over 20 women came up with accounts of the alleged sexual harassment by Akbar while they were working as journalists under him.</p>.<p>He termed the allegations “false, fabricated and deeply distressing” and said he was taking appropriate legal action against them.</p>
<p>Former union minister M J Akbar on Saturday reiterated before a Delhi court that the allegations of sexual misconduct made by journalist Priya Ramani against him were "fabricated and false".</p>.<p>Akbar made the submission before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ravindra Kumar through senior advocate Geeta Luthra during the final hearing in a criminal complaint filed by him against Ramani for allegedly defaming him by accusing him of sexual misconduct decades ago.</p>.<p>Ramani had made the allegation of sexual misconduct against Akbar in 2018 during the #MeToo movement.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/metoo-another-case-can-be-made-against-ramani-for-deleting-her-twitter-account-akbar-tells-court-941626.html" target="_blank">#MeToo: Another case can be made against Ramani for deleting her Twitter account, Akbar tells court</a></strong></p>.<p>Luthra said that Ramani “removing the tweet when the matter was sub-judice was (in) bad faith“.</p>.<p>“You (Ramani) can't make allegations on social media without any care and caution or responsibility after 20-30 years,” she said.</p>.<p>She added that after first saying that “Akbar didn't do anything, you call him media's biggest predator”.</p>.<p>Luthra argued that Ramani had raised contradictory defence.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/priya-ramani-ignited-flame-to-harm-his-reputation-m-j-akbar-tells-court-940410.html" target="_blank">Priya Ramani ignited flame to harm his reputation, M J Akbar tells court</a></strong></p>.<p>“You didn't feel the requirement of evidence of landline record, hotel, petrol receipt, CCTV. It (Ramani's claim of Akbar's sexual misconduct in a hotel) is complete hearsay, fabricated and false,” Luthra said</p>.<p>She said that Nilofer, Ramani's friend and a key witness in the case, was not an eyewitness.</p>.<p>The court will further hear the matter on January 27.</p>.<p>Akbar had filed the criminal defamation complaint against Ramani on October 15, 2018. He resigned as union minister on October 17, 2018.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="#MeToo: Ramani had no right to accuse me of sexual harassment as she had no proof, Akbar tells court Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/national/metoo-ramani-had-no-right-to-accuse-me-of-sexual-harassment-as-she-had-no-proof-akbar-tells-court-938951.html" target="_blank">#MeToo: Ramani had no right to accuse me of sexual harassment as she had no proof, Akbar tells court</a></strong></p>.<p>Akbar had earlier told the court that Ramani had defamed him by calling him with adjectives such as "media's biggest predator" that harmed his reputation.</p>.<p>He has denied all the allegations of sexual harassment he faced from the women who came forward during the #MeToo campaign.</p>.<p>Over 20 women came up with accounts of the alleged sexual harassment by Akbar while they were working as journalists under him.</p>.<p>He termed the allegations “false, fabricated and deeply distressing” and said he was taking appropriate legal action against them.</p>