Facing #MeToo accusations, Indian men retaliate with lawsuits, claiming they are the ones under attack
Defamation laws in India allow the criminal prosecution of women who are unable to prove public allegations against their abusers, with a maximum jail term of two years
A junior minister in India has filed a criminal defamation complaint against a woman who publicly accused him on social media of sexual misconduct, in a case that has highlighted setbacks facing India’s nascent #MeToo movement.
In a 41-page letter to Delhi’s chief metropolitan magistrate, Mobashar Jawed Akbar, minister of state for external affairs, accused journalist Priya Ramani of “wilfully, deliberately, intentionally and maliciously defaming the Complainant [Akbar], on wholly and completely false, frivolous, unjustifiable and scandalous grounds.”
The letter could result in criminal charges against Ramani and become the first major hurdle for India’s #MeToo movement which has taken off this month. Dozens of women have called out misconduct, assault and harassment in the workplace, naming men in industries including Indian media, entertainment, sports, public relations and non-profit.
In a statement, Ramani said she was “deeply disappointed” with Akbar’s decision to take legal action against her.
“By instituting a case of criminal defamation against me, Mr Akbar has made his stand clear: rather than engage with the serious allegations that many women have made against him, he seeks to silence them through intimidation and harassment,” she said.
