Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Versus
INDEX
1. Memo of Parties
A
2. Complaint under Section 200 read with
Section 190 of The Criminal Procedure Code,
'
1973, seeking prosecution of Accused Ms.
Priya Ram ani for the offence of Criminal
Defamation Under Section 499, Punishable
\-\2...
Under Section 500 of The Indian Penal Code,
1860, for making false and Defamatory
statements m the print/ electronic media
against Mr. Mobashar Jawed Akbar along with
! affidavit.
I
~
3. List of Witnesses
\"5
~
!8
~
~
i 5. Vakalatnama
1j --- -------
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~
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~
~ THROUGH COUNSEL~~
COMPLAINANT
~
~
~
j ~KARANJAWALA & CO.
~
~ 7, FACTORY ROAD, NEAR SAFDARJUNG
u
~ HOSPITAL, NEW DELHI- 110029
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IN THE COURT OF THE LD. CHIEF METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE
C. C. No. OF 2018
Versus
MEMO OF PARTIES
Also at:
F-2, Habitat Serenity No. 27,
Viviani Road, behind Clarence High School
Richards Town, Pulakeshinagar,
Bangalore - 560005 ... Accused
COMPLAINANT
THROUGH COUNSEL~
fi,R_KARAN~&~
7, FACTORY ROAD, NEAR SAFDARJUNG
HOSPITAL, NEW DELHI- 110029
DATE: \5-lO-"kJ \B
PLACE ~tw ])e}l\.t
- ~---
C. C. No. OF 2018
Versus
large.
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:-:
2.~
inducted into the Union Council of Ministers by the Hon'ble
from Jharkhand.
in 1976, and two daily newspapers i.e . 'The Telegraph' and 'The
others.
the Vale', 'Riot After Riot' and 'India: The Siege Within', The
such a·s, 'I began this piece with my MJ Akbar story. Never
any more but Akbar represents countless men who believe they
underlying agenda.
Court:
.comlpriyara @prernabindra
2018
mani/ status I @ghazalawahab
10502175818 I @kadambarim @shutapapaul
08775168 @suparnasharma
@harinderbaweja
@shumaraha @153anju have
painted you a clear portrait of
\·
S1
Date Platform Link Defamatorv Im:2utations
n. https: LLwww.livemint.comLPoliticsLtC6COLrrYte0JvdD53
FYCILMJ-Akbar-facing-MeToo-heat-heads-to-Equatorial-
Guinea.html
11. That, while admitting that the Complainant has never done
agenda.
the Complainant herein, by their very tone & tenor, are ex facie
political stage, established after years of toil and hard work, but
14. The Accused Person, by. way of such publications, has caused
17. The Complainant has received a number of calls from his friends
sphere, inquiring about the allegations put forth in the false and
attached herewith.
19. That the Complainant shall also rely on the documents in the
justice.
PRAYER
pleased to:
(a) take cognizance and issue process against the Accused for the
(b) pass any such other or further orders as this Hon'ble Court may
deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case
COMPLAINANT
THROUGH COUNSELS
~~fwY
~"KARANJAWALA & CO.)
7-FACTORY ROAD,
NEAR SAFDARJUNG HOSPITAL,
NEW DELHI- 110029
DATE: \)-\0~20\6
PLACE: l\)M:J>e_l,\,\\
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fl IN THE COURT OF THE LD. CHIEF METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE, \~
PATIALA HOUSE DISTRICT COURTS, DELHI
1
.
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~
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~
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IN THE MATTER OF:
~
.1
VERSUS
I
~
PRIYA RAMAN! ... ACCUSED
"~
'·~
·.!11
; AFFIDAVIT
~
~ I, Mr. Mobashar Jawed Akbar, S/o Sheikh Akbar Ali, aged about 67
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counsels under my instructions, contents whereof are true and
l .,
CJ
at the annexures annexed with the present Complaint are
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e copies of their respective originals.
~~-N-T _ __
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VERIFICATION
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tJ j OC f ZUJI
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,Y:~-r~tt at New Delhi on this _ day of October, 2018 that the
,.·.• ~~
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of the aforementioned affidavit are true and correct to the
therefro~lernn!v
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Aiiui~i'r.~ ~:.~je'ci. __, .~~ -.
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IN THE COURT OF THE LD. CHIEF METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE
C. C. No. OF 2018
Versus
LIST OF WITNESSES
Delhi- 110017
4. Mr. Tapan Chaki, Rjo - 357 j 1/2, Prince Anwar Shah Road,
Kolkata - 700068
5. Mr. Sunil Gujral, Rjo - 10, Pak Avenue Maharani Bagh, New
Delhi - 11 0065
6. Mr. Manzar Ali, R/o- Quarter no. 200, Lodhi Colony, new Delhi-
110011
COMPLAINANT
THROUGH
~
/~~
(KARANJAWALA & CO.)
7-FACTORY ROAD,
NEAR SAFDARJUNG HOSPITAL,
NEW DELHI- 110029
DATE: \f-\C ·Zl>\f .
PLACE: NM :::S>e...\"-'
~
:.
~I
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IN THE COURT OF THE LD. CHIEF METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE
~
IN THE MATTER OF:
LIST OF DOCUMENTS
s. PARTICULARS PAGE
NO. NO. I
Firstpost
U·>' ::;;....;-'
Court.
------
COMPLAINANT
THROUGH
•
PLACE:~~
DATED: \)~op:l£> \5
10/14/2018 To the Harvey Weinsteins of the world, an open letter
•
\O(~lJE INDIA SUBSCRIBE (i)
/~
To the Harvey Weinsteins ofthe world
by PRIYA RAMAN!
80000
"We'll get you all one day:'
You taught me my first workplace lesson. I was 23, you were 43. I grew up reading your
smart opinions and dremnt of being as erudite as you. You were one of my professional
heroes. Everyone said you had transformed Indian journalism and I wanted to be on your
team. So, we set a time you could interview me at the plush south Mumbai hotel where you
always stayed.
It was 7pm, but that didn't bother me. I knew you were a busy editor. When I got to the
lobby, I called you on the house phone. Come up, you said. Err really? Maybe that's how
celebrity editors interviewed newbies, I thought. Back then I didn't have the confidence to
say: "No, I'll wait for you in the lobby, you pervert."
Turns out you were as talented a predator as you were a writer. It was more date, less
interview. You offered me a drink from the mini bar (I refused, you drank vodka), we sat
on a small table for two that overlooked the Queen's Necklace (how romantic!) and you
sang me old Hindi songs after inquiring after my musical preferences. You thought you
werr;')istible.
(;) () () (;)
10/14/2018 To the Harvey Weinsteins of the world, an open letter
~ V'Q('~lE'
,, _l ; INDIA SUBSCRIBE (i)
;:;,
The bed, a scary interview accompaniment, was already turned down for the night. Come
sit here, you said at one point, gesturing to a tiny space near you. I'm fine, I replied with a
strained smile. I escaped that night, you hired me, I worked for you for many months even
though I swore I would never be in a room alone with you again.
All these years later the world has changed but your species is just the same. You still
think it's your right to take your pick of the bright professional young women who enter
YOUR workspace. You whip out your tired tricks for a new batch of women every year.
"Watch me shower." "Can I give you a massage?" "A shoulder rub?" "I'm ready for my blow
job now." "Are you married?"
You're an expert on obscene phone calls, texts, inappropriate compliments and not
taking no for an answer. You know how to pinch, pat, rub, grab and assault. Speaking up
against you still carries a heavy price that many young women cannot afford to pay.
Sometimes you are inconvenienced when the stories get out and you are asked to take a
time out. Often, you are quickly reinstated. Why would you need to evolve, right?
Sure, there are many male bosses who don't think of us as their personal harem, but I
haven't met too many who are ready to stand up with us and call out your misogyny. It
doesn't matter. There are more brave women now who are not scared to point out the
monster in the suit.
. ·\OGlE INDIA
SUBSCRIBE (i)
18
Priya Ramani
I NEXT STORY I
X
19~
Priya Ramani ( Follow.) v
@priyaramani
0 4 t.l.. 6 28
0 11 t.l. 54 136
X
Zo
Priya Ramani
( Follow ) v
@priyaramani
Q 7 t..l. 14 28
·~
Kadambari M. Wade @KadambariM ·Oct 11 v
You clearly don't read accounts. I don't typically retweet myself. But I had posted
this earlier specifically for people like you. Here.
01 t..l. 3 6
1) Why did it take near 2 decades to speak about Akbar till he became a minister
in BJP led Gov?
2) If Priyaramani addressed this when she said he was the same as a Congress
supporter why did she not speak out during prev. Congress Gov (10yrs)?
0 s t..l. 4
-
Kadambari M. Wade @KadambariM · Oct 11 v
Hello, I think you misunderstand what Priya stated & what I tried to elaborate on.
What she said was that he was the same then as he is now. She did sneak uo
10/14/2018 India's #Me Too wave: Who is next to fall?- The Washington Post
"
~~he Washington Post
Global Opinions
2-,
An actor, a journalist, a government minister: Who is next to
fall in India's #MeToo wave?
By Barkha Dutt
October 10
The rage of Indian women - submerged thus far in the recesses of memory, wrapped away in swathes of
fear and self-doubt, and suppressed for years by entrenched social stigma - has finally come pouring out
to set in motion India's long-overdue #MeToo moment. Caught in the swirl of these floodwaters: an
official in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, journalists, actors, directors and writers- all
accused of varying degrees of sexual harassment, misconduct or assault. Finally, India's women are
pushing back against the corrosive abuse of male power. It is nothing short of a revolution.
Among the most high-profile men accused this week is M.J. Akbar, once a celebrated newspaper editor
and, currently, the junior minister for foreign affairs. He was first accused by columnist Priya
Ramani, who had written about Akbar- without identifying him- in an October 2017 article for Vogue.
She recounted the night he asked her to his hotel room and made unwanted advances, including asking
her to sit on his bed. She was 23; he was 20 years older and her prospective editor. Since then, six other
women revealed how they were harassed and violated by Akbar. "The rage of younger women who had
been through much worse pouring out like lava onto my Twitter timeline forced me to question why I
was keeping quiet," Ramani told me during an interview.
Sushma Swaraj, India's foreign minister and Akbar's boss- and a strong female leader in her own
right - has ducked questions asking what actions the government would take against Akbar. But the
government's awkward silence on the allegations against Akbar is entirely untenable. A harrowing
account by Ghazala Wahab about how Akbar molested her has added a dimension of possible
criminality. The fact that Akbar represents India abroad - he was in Nigeria to mark the 150th
anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's birth when the accusations erupted - makes his continuation in
Modi's cabinet even more shameful. He must resign- or better yet, he should be fired. The government
has taken pride in the the fact that women hold traditionally male-dominated ministries, such as
defense. It will be mere tokenism if no action is taken in the light of multiple and grave allegations
against Akbar. At the very least, there needs to be an immediate and neutral inquiry into all accusations.
The trigger for this latest wave of allegations was provided by the actress Tanushree Dutta, who
has accused actor Nana Patekar and director Vivek Agnihotri of inappropriate conduct in two separate
incidents during the shooting of a film in 2008. Confronted with the usual backlash and innuendo ("Why
didn't she speak earlier?" and "She is doing this for her 15 seconds of prime-time fame"), it turned out
Dutta had filed an official complaint right after the incident with Patekar. But no one took it seriously.
Worse, her car was attacked by a violent mob connected to a local political party.
A decade ago, India simply dismissed her story. This time, her reiteration - combined with the
unfettered space offered by social media - has begun an unprecedented and searing conversation across
professions. "Let women speak up and speak loudly; there should be such a crescendo that the rest of the
noise simply ceases to matter. In any case, secrets aren't healthy; get them out," Dutta told me during a
conversation at We The Women, a feminist festival that I curate.
But as more and more women join the chorus, the crescendo has left organizations and individuals no
wiggle room for tone deafness. Women have documented evenings where job interviews turned into
10/14/2018 India's #Me Too wave: Who is next to fall?- The Washington Post
strength from community networks to identify alleged perpetrators. The number of such accounts have
" now run into the hundreds, and companies have been forced to take swift action. ~
Prashant Jha, who had been the political editor of the Hindustan Times, had to step down pending an
inquiry into a complaint by a former colleague. Phantom Films, a high-profile production house that
·created Netflix's "Sacred Games," has been dissolved after one of its partners was charged with assault.
Shows by the stand-up comedy group AlB have been dropped as two of its members battle allegations of
sexual misconduct. One of its comedians has been accused by several women of sending unsolicited
photos of his genitals. Another journalist, Gautam Adhikari, has quit his job at a U.S. think tank after at
least three women accused him of kissing them without consent.
What this female insurrection tells you about India's legal system is also significant. Women have tried
due process and lost hope. Even the most talked about cases take far too long. The rape trial of journalist
Tarun Tejpal was meant to be fast-tracked in eight months. Five years on, Tejpal is out on bail and the
case has seen interminable delays. In other cases, the police can be hostile, witnesses coerced and
women character-assassinated in court. Social media has provided a platform to women that Indian
courts have failed to offer.
This movement also asks us to question our own normalization of harassment. Even the strongest
among us have often looked at abuse as an inevitability, as an occupational hazard, as a sort of of boot
camp that is meant to toughen us up. Of course, like women everywhere, we sometimes don't speak in
real time for fear of damaging our careers. Once, during an interview, a politician pawed my breasts;
another time, a senior lawyer stalked me with unwanted phone calls. I have been molested while
reporting in a conflict zone. Even when I managed to slap the perpetrator or push him off, I did not go
public because I thought I would be seen as too soft or would not be sent on those assignments again.
"We fight it out, rough it all out through all of the harassment so that we don't come across as unable to
handle the rigors of field work as reporters," says Sandhya Menon, one of the first journalists who
opened India's #MeToo conversation in the news media. "The minute the man turns sexually aggressive
and we complain, we are afraid of being looked at as children who run and cry and complain. So we say
'I'm a bad-ass, gutsy girl and I can handle it.' That's what we want to be seen as. Until we realize that
'bad-ass' doesn't mean being groped and propositioned to.''
Barkha Dutt
Barkha Dutt is an award-winning TV journalist and anchor with more than two decades of reporting experience. She is
the author of "This Unquiet Land: Stories from India's Fault Lines." Dutt is based in New Delhi. Follow t1
im}e tva.sl}ingbmtJ.t
~
z:g:.
Your support helps our journalists report news
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Home » Politics
M.J. Akbar is a former journalist and now minister of state for external affairs. Photo: HT
New Delhi: Accusations of sexual assault and harassment levelled by almost a dozen
women under the #MeToo campaign notwithstanding, minister of state for external
affairs M.J. Akbar on Thursday proceeded on an official visit to the Equatorial Guinea
after Nigeria, quelling speculation that he would be asked to cut short his Mrica tour and
step down.
Two people familiar with the developments said on Thursday that the minister had gone
to the tiny West African country bordering Cameroon. The two people had earlier said
that Akbar would return to New Delhi on Friday after his Nigeria leg of the Africa tour.
The visit to both countries was planned before the accusations against him came to light,
the two people said separately.
That Akbar was going ahead with the visit to Equatorial Guinea without cutting short the
trin w::~s inrlil'.::~tion th::~t hP. w::~s not hP.in!! ::~skP.rl to stP.n clown. ::~t lP.::~st not immP.rli::~tP.lv. ::1
10/14/2018 M.J. Akbar, facing #Me Too heat, heads to Equatorial Guinea- Livemint
Tiny Equatorial Guinea is the fourth-largest supplier of natural gas to India, after Qatar,
Nigeria and Australia. The main items of India's exports to Equatorial Guinea are food
products, cereals, meat, pharmaceuticals, machinery and apparel.
The opposition Congress on Wednesday was the first to demand Akbar's resignation and
was later joined by others. Akbar's own Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has, by and large,
remained quiet on the matter, with external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj ignoring
questions on Tuesday about whether the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)
government intended to take any action against him.
The most stringent action that the government could initiate against Akbar was
launching an informal inquiry against the journalist-turned-politician, said a senior BJP
leader on condition of anonymity. A knee-jerk reaction such as dismissing him from his
post pending the completion of the inquiry, was unlikely, added the leader.
"An informal inquiry is more likely, but if people think that M.J. Akbar would be asked to
resign once he returns from Nigeria, then it is very unlikely to happen," the leader said.
"The government carries out informal inquiries in cases of complaints. It is the most
likely route the government would take. The government would also want to check the
validity of these allegations," the leader said on condition of anonymity.
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EDITOR'S PICKS »
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Why Pakistan IMF bailout talks matter to India
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10/14/2018 M.J. Akbar, facing #Me Too heat, heads to Equatorial Guinea- Livemint
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10/14/2018 #MeToo: MJ Akbar's use of 'predatory' tactics, sexual harassment in newsroom- 14 women share their ordeal- Firstpost
~<3
FIRSTPOST.
Sunday, October 14, 2018 : SwitcJQo ~ (http://hindi.firstpost.com/)
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CRICWER
Editor's Note: This article has been republished in the light ofjunior foreign minister Mj Akbar's return to India.
Akbar has been accused of sexual harassment by at least 14 women journalists and is expected to respond to the
allegations amid growing call for his resignation.
***
"The best way to eliminate poverty is to empower women. If you invest in women, you invest in future." -This was a
statement believed to have been made (https://twitter.com/AdityaRajKauVstatus/1049309219386736640) recently in
Nigeria by India's junior minister of external affairs MJ Akbar, quite ironic at present, given the myriad of sexual
harassment charges piling up against him amid the #MeToo movement gaining ground in India.
"Ten of us have painted you a clear portrait of the media's biggest sexual predator. How many more stories do you
need to hear?'' journalist Priya Ramani tweeted (https://twitter.com/priyaramani/status/1050217581808775168) on
Thursday, tagging the nine other women who made public in detail their experiences- some horrifying- with
Akbar.
Women have recounted their ordeals with Akbar right from the 1980s
till as recently as in in 2010-2011. Ranging from sexual harassment,
sexism and abuse of power in his capacity as an editor, they recalled
Akbar's despicable behaviour.
Priya Ramani
10/14/2018 #MeToo: MJ Akbar's use of 'predatory' tactics, sexual harassment in newsroom - 14 women share their ordeal - Firstpost
, Ramani wrote how he had invited her to a hotel room in Mumbai for an
advances towards her. She was 23 years old, while he was 43. "Turns out you
were a writer ... " she wrote.
6 Priya Ramani
. , @priyaramani
Prerna Singh Bindra Writer and conservationist Prerna Singh Bindra also took to Twitter to recount her experience
with Akbar. "He was this brilliant, flamboyant editor who dabbled in politics, who called me -my first job -to his
hotel room to 'discuss work' after I put the edition to bed- read midnight- and made life at work hell when I
refused. Couldn't speak up due to various compulsions, but yes #MeTooindia. It was #MJAkbar I do not say this
lightly ... I know the consequences of false accusations and it has been now 17 years and I have no concrete proof,"
she said.
Ghazala Wahab
Wahab's could arguably be one of the most detailed and horrifying accounts which have come out since the #MeToo
movement (https://www.firstpost.com/indialit-was-mj-akbar-and-i-do-not-say-this-lightly~congress-demands-probe
as-more-survivors-name-minister-bjp-remains-silent-5350351.html) picked up pace in India, as well as among the·
women who have spoken up about their distressing encounters with Akbar.
In her article, Wahab wrote that during her initial years at the newspaper, she "accepted everything as part of the
office culture- Akbar's flirtation with young sub-editors, his blatant favouritism and his bawdy jokes".
"His eyes fell on me. And my nightmare began," the journalist wrote in an article for The Wire
(https:llthewire.inlmedia/mj-akbar-sexual-harassment) on the ordeal Akbar put her through during her time at The
Asian Age. She goes on to narrate her harrowing experiences with Akbar, his persistence in trying to force himself
on her in his cabin at The Asian Age office, the emotional tactics he resorted to when he realised his physical
advances would not work and also how he got the newspaper's tarot card columnist to tell her he really loved her.
"In the last 21 years, I had put all this behind me. I was determined not to be a victim and not let one monster's
debauchery ruin my career, even though occasionally I had nightmares. Maybe now the nightmares will stop," she
~
1
,·; wrote in conclusion.
Shutapa Paul
Founder-Editor of NewCrop, Paul made public Akbar's unwanted advances towards her and repeated invitations to
his hotel room.
10/14/2018 #MeToo: MJ Akbar's use of 'predatory' tactics, sexual harassment in newsroom -14 women share their ordeal- Firstpost
on his foreign visits," Paul wrote, as she shared multiple instances of Akbar's ~
A Shutapa Paul
W @ShutapaPaul
Saba Naqvi "The man never laid a hand on me- but I have no doubt that this was harassment by the boss ... ," writer
and journalist Saba Naqvi said. In an article for dailyO (https://www.dailyo.inlpolitics/metoo-movement-sexual-
harassment-at-workplacelstory/1/27145.html), she recounted her experience with Akbar at her first job with the
Ananda Bazar Patrika in the 1980s in Kolkata. Naqvi wrote about how she was eager to work with who "we were all
told" was "God's gift to the profession". But her perception of him changed soon after, as he made his intentions
known and began to make advances towards her. Naqvi wrote that Akbar even went to the extent of transferring her
then boyfriend (now the father of her child) from being a sub-editor on the Kolkata desk to a reporter in Daljeeling.
"It's worth writing about this now as I have, over the years, heard of similar stories in newsrooms of regional and
vernacular papers and TV channels, where women continue to put up with predatory behavior," Naqvi wrote. "In my
list of editors, he is the worst I ever encountered ... I sensed a danger and was someone who got away." Kadambari M
Wade Another former journalist at The Asian Age, Wade took to Twitter to recount her ordeal in 1998 while working
as a sport reporter at the newspaper with Akbar in charge. In a thread of seven tweets, she highlighted how Akbar
would always look at her chest while talking to her. "Sir, I'd much prefer if you'd look at my face instead of my chest
when you're talking to me,"·she said she told him. "Mr Akbar continued making me feel very uncomfortable till
shortly thereafter, I fled. I came out and told Bobilli Vijay Kumar, my sports editor, but he laughed and said, 'that's
just Akbar, don't worry. He's like that with everyone," Wade shared on Twitter.
• Kadambari M. Wade
8 @KadambariM
Harinder Baweja
It was journalist Baweja who tweeted, saying, "So many of us have an MJ story", after Ramani's first tweet calling
Akbar out for harassing women he worked with. "Can I come over to your house with a bottle of rum?" was one of the
tactics she said Akbar used.
10/14/2018 #Me Too: MJ Akbar's use of 'predatory' tactics, sexual harassment in newsroom -14 women share their ordeal- Firstpost
Notirkaiions Pvw(•red By {http!':iiwww.izoolo.com!gt.)tting-..;lart('(l-\''ilh-izn•Jlo"!uim __ sot:n·<•=-rr·f(-JTiJl&!llm_nHJ<.liunl=PowPredBy&utm_o.:~mpaig-n=httt)"-i.:~A~C.2F~~-~Fwww.flr!'lpo-'31 cnnl)
Anju Bharti In response to Ramani's tweet, journalist Bharti shared how Akbar, during his time at India Today, got
drunk at a party, "took females in a pool and had 'fun'. She said it was at a party hosted by Aroon Purie.
Mine was in India Today late night party thrown by Aroon Purie,
how he got drunk and took females in pool and had 'fun' what he
said ... @anjanaomkashyap
(https://twitter.com/anj a nao m kas hya p? ref_src =twsrc%5 Etfw)
@ PadmajaJoshi (https://twitter.com/PadmajaJoshi?
ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) @PreetiChoudhry
(https://twitter.com/PreetiChoud hry? ref_src =twsrc%5 Etfw)
#Metoo (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Metoo?
src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw).#MeToolndia
(https://twitter.com/hashtag/MeToolndia?
src=hash&ref src=twsrc%5Etfw)- anju bharti (@153anju)
- (
October 9, 2018 ·
(https://twitter.com/153anju/status/1 049479703709528064?
ref_src=twsrc%5 Etfw)
Suparna Sharma
The current resident editor of The Asian Age, Suparna Sharma also accused Akbar of harassing her. Speaking to The
Indian Express (https://indianexpress.com/articlelindialmetoo-movement-six-women-speak-up-accuse-minister-mj-
akbarcof-sexual-harassment-when-he-was-editor-53946251), Sharma said that she reported to Akbar from 1993 to
1996, and that during that time, he had plucked her bra strap and said something to her "which I don't remember
now" but made her scream at him.
She also recalled an incident in which she once went to Akbar's cabin at the office, he kept staring at her chest breast
and said something she ignored. Sharma also added that such incidents were routine with Akbar, and there were "no
committees one could go to".
ShumaRaha
Raha also shared her ordeal in response to Ramani's tweet. She said that she, too, had an encounter with Akbar after
he invited her to a hotel room for an interview.
"In this case, #Me Too. Year: 1995, Place Taj Bengal, Kolkata. After that encounter, I declined the job offer," she
tweeted. "I must clarify, however, that he didn't actually "do" anything. But the whole experience of an interview
sitting on a bed in a hotel room followed by an invitation to come over for a drink that evening was rattling and
deeply uncomfortable."
10/14/2018 #Me Too: MJ Akbar's use of 'predatory' tactics, sexual harassment in newsroom -14 women share their ordeal- Firstpost
Notitkations Powc~red By
•
·
Prasanto K Roy @prasanto · Oct 8, 2018
Replying to @priyaramani
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fntrp~:iiwww.izooto.coJn!gt.~tting-..,lartc·cl·with-izooto'!uinl_sot:.!TC·=rr-fc-rrai<trn_nledium=PowE'r~dBy&utlll_<.:?.mpaign-==-.http!\f.~~A%2F%::!Fwww.fh'!-:ti> 1.l'>l t:rm1l
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Unbelievable consistency.
What a track record.
Never a variation.
Every female journo who's interviewed him: hotel room, bed ready,
drinks on hand.
;
A ShumaRaha
W @ShumaRaha
In this case, #Me Too. Year: 1995, Place Taj Bengal, Kolkata.
After that encounter, I declined the job offer.
7:19PM- Oct 8, 2018 ·New Delhi, India
Malini Bhupta "I wasn'tjunioi' and he made my life hell," wrote Malini Bhupta, also in response to Ramani. Bhupta
said she was the deputy editor India Today when he used various tactics to "abuse and destroy you professionally, so
you grovel". "I didn't relent so he wanted to sack me, but Mr (Aroon) Purie didn't allow it. I quit in January 2011. It is
abuse of power," she shared on 1\vitter. "Men like him are vermin ... In 2010, I went on leave for three months after
verbal abuse and intimidation. I then quit. Petty man wanted to sack me, and then refused to give a release letter."
I wasn't junior & he made my life hell. I was Deputy Editor India
Today. His tactic is to abuse & destroy you professionally so you
grovel. I didn't relent so he wanted to sack me but Mr Purie
didn't allow it. I quit in Jan 2011. It is abuse of power. #MeToo
#SackMJAkbar
8:01 PM- Oct 10,2018
Kanika Gahlaut
The freelance journalist, too, spoke to The Indian Express to describe how Akbar's behaviour towards everyone was
inappropriate when she worked with him from 1995 to 1997.
"One did hear, from the beginning, from before we joined that MJ (Akbar) had a glad eye, and we were forewarned".
She said he "did it to everyone".
Describing an incident, Gahlaut told The Indian Express that Akbar had invited her to a hotel room once, to which
she agreed but did not show up. However, she added that Akbar "wouldn't push" once he was told "no", contrary to
the accounts of the other women who had spoken out against him so far.
This is only a list of women who came out on record against Akbar, once considered the most powerful figure in the
field of journalism. There are so many other women who have anonymously- for various reasons, primarily to
prevent distressing their family- also shared their traumatic experiences while working with Akbar. One such
journalist, writing for Firstpost(https://www.firstpost.com/india/my-metoo-moment-founding-editor-of-national-
newspaper-forced-himself-on-me-planted-shame-fear-almost- broke-me-533 7121.html), shared a chilling account of
her experience with Akbar, once again, in a hotel room.
In another instance of Akbar inviting a young journalist up to his hotel room, a woman told Firstpostthat when she
reached his room, "I found the door ajar. MJ Akbar, with his boots on, lay sprawled on the bed. I introduced myself
and stood at the open door and answered his questions. He frowned and told me, 'Will let you know.' The interview
did not last long. I did not get the job."
The #MeToo movement has gained momentum in India and support for the cause is only rising, as is the call for
Akbar's resignation or for the government to sack him. At this point, it is hard to decide whether it would be a good
thing or bad if more women name Akbar in their #Me Too experiences -good, as it will only add to the case against
Akbar; and bad, as the women had gone through the experience and have to live with the trauma.
***
10/14/2018 #Me Too: MJ Akbar's use of 'predatory' tactics, sexual harassment in newsroom -14 women share their ordeal- Firstpost
'Orkplace have been forwarded to our PoSH committee for appropriate action_
33·
MJ Akbar accused of sexual No word on resignation, MJ Akbar MJ Akbar denies "false and fabricated'
harassment: Former journalist's fall denies charges of sexual misconduct; sexual misconduct charges. to take
fi'Om grace a defining moment for Congress says 'adding insult to injury' legal action; no clarity on resignation
Indian politics, #MeToo India yet
(https://www.firstpost.com/indialwith-
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fall-from-grace-a-defining-moment-for- charges-congress-says-adding-insult- charges-of-sexual-harassment-to-take-
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PropRover
Everyone is after MJ Akbar. But is he is the lone fall guy in the ministry? And among other editors and senior journalists? This movement should not limit to an
Aloknath, Nana and MJ Akbar. It would fizzle out soon unless the harassed women in politics, media and corporate sector open up ...
Like · Reply · 2d
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IN THE COURT OF THE LD. CHIEF METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE,
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IN THE COURT OF THE LD. CHIEF METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE,
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AFFIDAVIT
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herein after called Advocates to be my/ our advocates in the above noted case and authorized them.
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behalf.
And I/ We undersigned do hereby agree ratify and confirm acts done by the advocates or his substitute in
the matter is my/ our acts as if done by me/us to all intents and purposes.
And I/ We undersigned do hereby agree that in the event of any part of the fees agreed by me/ us to be
paid to the Advocate remaining unpaid, he shall be entitled to withdraw from the prosecution and would be
entitled to the same.
IN THE WITNESS WHEREOF I/ We do hereby upto.~t my/ our ha~d, tq these presents the contents to
which have been understood by me 1 us on the \5 day of UC\~ 2018
Accepted~~- L ·
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Advocates
'"I ) o"J HINDUSTAN TIMES HOUSE, ·
\ ~" 9TH FLOOR, 18-20, KASTURBA GANDHI MARG, NEW DELHI - 110 001.
PHONE NOS. : 43588888 [43588801 TO 43588899]
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