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		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Created page with &amp;quot;{{short description|Indian Journalist}} {{use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox person | name        = Priya Ramani | image       = | caption     =  | birthname   =  | b...&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
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| name        = Priya Ramani&lt;br /&gt;
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| occupation  = [[Journalist]], [[editor]]&lt;br /&gt;
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| title       = Editor at large, [[Juggernaut Books]]&lt;br /&gt;
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&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Priya Ramani&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; is an Indian journalist, writer, and editor. In 2018, Ramani made an allegation of sexual harassment against now-former Minister of State for External Affairs [[M.J. Akbar]], and Akbar filed a criminal defamation complaint against her. In October 2020, Ramani co-created the India Love Project on [[Instagram]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Career==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ramani began working at &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[The Asian Age]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; in 1994, then [[Reuters]], &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Elle (magazine)|Elle]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[India Today]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; magazine and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Mint Lounge&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;wire&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web|url=https://thewire.in/law/priya-ramani-mj-akbar-defamation-case-metoo |title=&amp;#039;Silence Wouldn&amp;#039;t Have Been Right&amp;#039;: Priya Ramani Tells Court in M.J. Akbar Case |first=Anoo |last=Bhuyan |website=thewire.in|date=9 September 2019|accessdate=November 29, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Ramani has also written for [[Livemint]],&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Search/Link/Author/Priya-Ramani |title=Priya Ramani |website=livemint.com}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; [[Indian Express]],&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;medianama&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web|url=https://www.medianama.com/2016/01/223-juggernaut-books-appoints-priya-ramani-as-editor-at-large/ |title=Juggernaut Books appoints Priya Ramani as editor at large |first=Vivek |last=Pai |date=4 January 2016 |accessdate=November 29, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Vogue India]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Priya Ramani |url=https://www.vogue.in/author/Priya-Ramani |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=Vogue India}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Ramani led &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Mint Lounge&amp;#039;&amp;#039; for eight years.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;medianama&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; She is an editor at large at [[Juggernaut Books]] for its digital properties.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;medianama&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; Ramani also serves as an editorial board member of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Article 14&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, a website about the rule of law in India.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Bhimjyani&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Vogue India&amp;#039;&amp;#039;===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On October 12, 2017, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Vogue India]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; published an article by Ramani titled &amp;quot;To the Harvey Weinsteins of the world,&amp;quot; that was styled as an open letter and begins with &amp;quot;Dear Male Boss.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Ramani VI 2017&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Ramani |first1=Priya |title=To the Harvey Weinsteins of the world |url=https://www.vogue.in/content/harvey-weinsteins-open-letter-sexual-harassment |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=Vogue India |date=October 12, 2017}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[CNN]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; reports that Ramani described workplace harassment during a job interview in a Mumbai hotel room.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Suri |first1=Manveena |title=India&amp;#039;s #MeToo moment? Media and entertainment industry shaken by allegations |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/10/asia/india-metoo-intl/index.html |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=CNN |date=October 19, 2018}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Sexual harassment allegation==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In October 2018, Ramani made the allegation of sexual harassment against now-former Union minister and veteran journalist [[M.J. Akbar]] on [[Twitter]] in a tweet during the [[Me Too movement|#MeToo movement]].&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;wire&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; On October 8, 2018, Ramani tweeted with a reference to her 2017 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Vogue India&amp;#039;&amp;#039; piece, stating &amp;quot;I began this piece with my MJ Akbar story. Never named him because he didn’t &amp;quot;do&amp;quot; anything. Lots of women have worse stories about this predator—maybe they&amp;#039;ll share.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;wire&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;  Soon after Ramani&amp;#039;s tweets, more women accused Akbar of sexual misconduct during his career as a journalist.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;scroll&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web|url=https://scroll.in/latest/972332/mj-akbar-defamation-case-priya-ramani-says-disclosure-of-sexual-harassment-was-for-public-good |title=MJ Akbar defamation case: Priya Ramani says disclosure of sexual harassment was for &amp;#039;public good&amp;#039; |website=scroll.in |date=6 September 2020 |accessdate=November 30, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Criminal defamation case==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[M.J. Akbar]] filed a criminal defamation case against Ramani on October 15, 2018, and resigned as Minister of State for External Affairs on October 17, 2018.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;PTI Dec 18 2020&amp;quot;/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=FP Staff |title=live #MeToo; MJ Akbar defamation case hearing updates: Delhi court&amp;#039;s next hearing on 31 Oct, ex-minister to be present |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/metoo-mj-akbar-defamation-case-hearing-live-updates-delhi-courts-next-hearing-on-31-oct-ex-minister-told-to-be-present-5399741.html |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=Firstpost |date=October 18, 2018}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Gupta |first1=Swati |title=Indian minister MJ Akbar resigns amid sexual assault allegations |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/17/asia/mj-akbar-resignation-metoo-india-intl/index.html |access-date=24 December 2020 |work=CNN |date=October 18, 2018}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[The New York Times]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; described Akbar at the time as &amp;quot;the most prominent figure so far to be felled by the #MeToo movement sweeping the world’s largest democracy&amp;quot; and reported &amp;quot;Akbar and his 97 lawyers have brought [the case] against Priya Ramani, the first woman to publicly accuse him of harassment dating back to a time when he was a prominent newspaper editor.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Abi-Habib&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Abi-Habib |first1=Maria |last2=Goel |first2=Vindu |title=A Top Indian Minister Resigns, but Can #MeToo Reform Government? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/world/asia/india-mj-akbar-resigns-metoo.html |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=October 17, 2018}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Bhawana Bisht, writing for &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[SheThePeople.TV]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, described the case against Ramani as an example of a [[Strategic lawsuit against public participation|SLAPP lawsuit]] and &amp;quot;a way to drag the women to court and intimidate them until they withdraw.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Bisht&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web |last1=Bisht |first1=Bhawana |title=There Is A History Of Using SLAPP Suits To Silence Women |url=https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/there-is-a-history-of-using-slapp-suits-to-silence-women/ |website=SheThePeople.TV |access-date=20 December 2020 |date=October 20, 2018}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Ramani pleaded not guilty,&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Venkatesan&amp;quot;/&amp;gt; and may be sentenced to prison for up to two years.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Dutt&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Dutt |first1=Barkha |title=An Indian minister accused of sexual abuse should have been sacked. Instead, he wants to punish women. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2018/10/15/an-indian-minister-accused-of-sexual-abuse-should-have-been-sacked-instead-he-wants-to-punish-women/ |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=The Washington Post |date=October 16, 2018}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In January 2019, Ramani was summoned to court,&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Scroll Staff |title=MJ Akbar defamation case: Delhi court issues summons to journalist Priya Ramani |url=https://scroll.in/latest/911254/mj-akbar-defamation-case-delhi-court-issues-summons-to-journalist-priya-ramani |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=Scroll.in |date=January 29, 2019}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and in February 2019, Ramani was granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 10,000.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;scroll&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; In June 2019, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[CNN]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; described Ramani&amp;#039;s case as one of two &amp;quot;high-profile criminal defamation cases [that] have recently shaken the country’s #MeToo movement.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Fox CNN&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Fox |first1=Kara |last2=Crouin |first2=Antoine |title=Men are suing women who accused them of harassment. Will it stop others from speaking out? |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/05/europe/metoo-defamation-trials-sandra-muller-france-intl/index.html |access-date=24 December 2020 |work=CNN |date=June 5, 2019}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Senior Advocate [[Rebecca Mammen John|Rebecca John]] represents Ramani, and in September 2020, John told the court, &amp;quot;A true imputation made in the public good is not defamation... it is not defamation to make an imputation on the character of another when it is made in good faith for the protection of his or other&amp;#039;s interest.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;PTI 09-05-2020&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Press Trust of India |title=Disclosure Of Sexual Harassment Was For Public Good, Priya Ramani Tells Court |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/metoo-movement-journalist-priya-ramani-tells-court-disclosure-of-sexual-harassment-was-for-public-good-2290978 |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=NDTV |date=September 5, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;  John also said, &amp;quot;Priya Ramani&amp;#039;s alleged defamatory tweets and the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Vogue&amp;#039;&amp;#039; article were her truth. I am saying this is my (Ramani&amp;#039;s) truth... it is the truth, is in good faith, touching public good.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;PTI 09-05-2020&amp;quot;/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ramani told the court on September 7, 2020, &amp;quot;It was my hope that the disclosures, which were part of #MeToo, would empower women to speak up for their rights at the workplace. This case has come at great personal cost to me. I had nothing to gain from it. I am a very well regarded journalist. I live a quiet life with my family in Bangalore,&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;By keeping silent, I could have avoided the subsequent targeting. But that wouldn’t have been the right thing to do.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;wire&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
V. Venkatesan writes for &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; that according to &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Bar and Bench&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, John argued on September 19 that &amp;quot;freedom of speech and expression was critical and intrinsic to a democracy,&amp;quot; and Ramani was a &amp;quot;small part&amp;quot; of the larger #MeToo movement.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Venkatesan&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Venkatesan |first1=V. |title=Something More Than Meets the Eye as M.J. Akbar Case Against Priya Ramani Set to Shift Courts |url=https://thewire.in/law/mj-akbar-priya-ramani-defamation-jurisdiction |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=The Wire |date=October 13, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; John also argued that Ramani&amp;#039;s allegation of sexual harassment was supported by other women who made similar allegations against Akbar, including journalist Ghazala Wahab.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;NH 09-19-2020&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=NH Web Desk |title=&amp;#039;I deserve to be acquitted&amp;#039;: Submissions on Priya Ramani&amp;#039;s behalf conclude in MJ Akbar&amp;#039;s defamation case |url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/i-deserve-to-be-acquitted-submissions-on-priya-ramanis-behalf-conclude-in-mj-akbars-defamation-case |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=National Herald |date=September 19, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[National Herald]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; reports John concluded her presentation with a quote by the late US Supreme Court justice, [[Ruth Bader Ginsburg]], &amp;quot;on arbitrary barriers that women face in work-life.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;NH 09-19-2020&amp;quot;/&amp;gt; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[The Quint]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; reports that in reference to the Ginsburg quote, &amp;quot;John spoke about “structural wrong” and said that the #MeToo Movement was started to correct this structural wrong.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Saran |first1=Mekhala |title=MJ Akbar-Priya Ramani Case: John Quotes Ginsburg in Final Argument |url=https://www.thequint.com/neon/gender/mj-akbar-priya-ramani-case-rebecca-john-concludes-final-arguments |access-date=26 December 2020 |work=The Quint |publisher=Bloomberg |date=September 19, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; After John completed her arguments as to why Ramani should be acquitted and before Akbar&amp;#039;s senior advocate [[Geeta Luthra]] was to begin her argument, the court decided to transfer the case to another court.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Venkatesan&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; On October 22, 2020, the case was sent back to the court after what the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Press Trust of India]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; described as a &amp;quot;controversial&amp;quot; transfer.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;PTI 10-23-2020&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Press Trust India |title=#MeToo: M.J. Akbar&amp;#039;s Defamation Case Against Priya Ramani Sent to Same Judge |url=https://thewire.in/law/metoo-m-j-akbars-defamation-case-against-priya-ramani-sent-to-same-judge |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=The Wire |date=October 23, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In November 2020, Senior Advocate Geeta Luthra submitted to the court on behalf of Akbar that Ramani made the statements out of vengeance, not the public good, and Ramani failed to produce evidence of her allegations and failed to apologize for the statements.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;PTI 11-10-2020&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Press Trust India |title=#MeToo: Priya Ramani made &amp;#039;defamatory&amp;#039; statement out of vengeance, Akbar tells court |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/metoo-priya-ramani-made-defamatory-statement-out-of-vengeance-akbar-tells-court/article33066343.ece |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=The Hindu |date=November 10, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; On November 21, 2020, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[The Indian Express]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; reported that the court asked Ramani and Akbar to consider a settlement of the case.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;IE 11-21-2020&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Mohan |first1=Anand |title=MJ Akbar vs Priya Ramani: New judge urges both sides to consider settlement of defamation case |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mj-akbar-priya-ramani-defamation-case-settlement-7060134/ |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=The Indian Express |date=November 21, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; On November 24, 2020, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Asian News International]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; reported that John informed the court on behalf of Ramani that there was no chance of a settlement.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;ANI 11-24-2020&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Journalist Priya Ramani says she stands with her statement, no chance of settlement |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/journalist-priya-ramani-says-she-stands-with-her-statement-no-chance-of-settlement20201124222031/ |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=Asian News International |date=November 24, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Due to a transfer of judges, the matter would now be heard again before the new judge.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;ANI 11-24-2020&amp;quot;/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On December 10, 2020, the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Press Trust of India&amp;#039;&amp;#039; reported that John told the court that Ramani is &amp;quot;not the only one who has come out with her painful story against Akbar.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;PTI Dec 10 2020&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Press Trust of India |title=MJ Akbar &amp;quot;Deliberately&amp;quot; Misread Article, Priya Ramani&amp;#039;s Lawyer Tells Court |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mj-akbar-deliberately-misread-article-priya-ramanis-lawyer-tells-court-2336982 |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=NDTV |date=December 10, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; John also said, &amp;quot;Sexual harassment at the work place is a matter of public interest. It has been recognised as a violation of the fundamental rights of women.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;PTI Dec 10 2020&amp;quot;/&amp;gt; John further stated that Akbar had engaged in a &amp;quot;deliberate and mischievous misreading&amp;quot; of the 2017 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Vogue&amp;#039;&amp;#039; article written by Ramani.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;PTI Dec 10 2020&amp;quot;/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On December 14, 2020, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Asian News International&amp;#039;&amp;#039; reported that Ramani submitted to the court through John that &amp;quot;[[Me Too movement (India)|#MeToo came to India]] in 2018. It wasn&amp;#039;t a crime to speak up on the #MeToo platform. These are acts of extreme courage that require celebration. These are not acts for which one should face defamation.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;ANI Dec 14 2020&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Asian News International |title=Speaking on MeToo act of courage, not defamation: Priya Ramani tells court |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/speaking-on-metoo-act-of-courage-not-defamation-priya-ramani-tells-court20201214173026/ |access-date=20 December 2020 |date=December 14, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On December 18, 2020, the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Press Trust of India&amp;#039;&amp;#039; reported that Ramani alleged in court through John that Akbar did not approach the court with clean hands in his criminal defamation complaint against her.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;PTI Dec 18 2020&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Press Trust of India |title=MeToo: M J Akbar did not approach court with clean hands, says Priya Ramani |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/dec/18/metoo-m-j-akbar-did-not-approach-court-with-clean-hands-says-priya-ramani-2238051.html |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=The New Indian Express |date=December 18, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Over 20 women have alleged sexual harassment by Akbar while they were working as journalists under him, and John told the court that Ramani was not the first to tweet against Akbar: &amp;quot;Several women had tweeted. Ghazala Wahab tweeted two days before. Shunali Khullar Shroff and Prerna Singh Bhindra tweeted before her.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;PTI Dec 18 2020&amp;quot;/&amp;gt; John told the court that 15 women had accused Akbar of sexual harassment by the time he filed the case against Ramani in October 2018, and Akbar &amp;quot;played a fraud&amp;quot; by failing to mention the other accusations of sexual harassment against him when he filed and then claiming that only Ramani&amp;#039;s statement defamed him.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Scroll Dec 18 2020&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Scroll Staff |title=MJ Akbar played fraud on court by hiding other sexual harassment allegations: Priya Ramani&amp;#039;s lawyer |url=https://scroll.in/latest/981749/mj-akbar-played-fraud-on-court-by-hiding-other-sexual-harassment-allegations-priya-ramanis-lawyer |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=Scroll.in |date=December 18, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On December 22, 2020, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Bar and Bench&amp;#039;&amp;#039; reported that MJ Akbar&amp;#039;s counsel Geeta Luthra reviewed Ramani&amp;#039;s 2017 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Vogue&amp;#039;&amp;#039; article in court,&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web |title=MJ Akbar v. Priya Ramani: Live Updates from the final hearings before Delhi Court |url=https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/akbar-v-ramani-rouse-avenue-live-dec-22 |website=Bar and Bench |access-date=25 December 2020 |date=December 22, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Press Trust of India&amp;#039;&amp;#039; reports that Luthra told the court on behalf of Akbar, &amp;quot;People on responsible position like journalists should not make such allegations on social media. They should come to court instead.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Press Trust of India |title=Ramani should have taken recourse to law, not social media allegations, Akbar tells court |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/ramani-should-have-taken-recourse-to-law-not-social-media-allegations-akbar-tells-court-187981 |access-date=26 December 2020 |work=The Tribune |date=December 22, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; On December 24, 2020, the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Press Trust of India&amp;#039;&amp;#039; reported that in court, MJ Akbar denied meeting Ramani in the hotel where she alleged the sexual harassment happened.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=PTI |title=#MeToo: MJ Akbar tells court no meeting with Priya Ramani in hotel |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/dec/24/metoo-mj-akbar-tells-court-no-meeting-with-priya-ramani-in-hotel-2240648.html |access-date=25 December 2020 |work=The New Indian Express |date=December 24, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; On January 4, 2021, Luthra stated in court that &amp;quot;without any investigation or basis,&amp;quot; Ramani referred to Akbar as &amp;quot;media’s biggest sexual predator&amp;quot; in a tweet about Akbar&amp;#039;s resignation.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Scroll Staff |title=Priya Ramani case: MJ Akbar tells Delhi court he was labelled sexual predator ‘without any basis’ |url=https://scroll.in/latest/983116/priya-ramani-case-mj-akbar-tells-delhi-court-he-was-labelled-sexual-predator-without-any-basis |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=Scroll.in |date=January 4, 2021}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; On January 18, in response to Ramani&amp;#039;s point about the other allegtions made against Akbar, Luthra told the court, &amp;quot;It doesn’t matter what people say post facto. Harm is done by the man who instigates and ignites the flame first.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=PTI |title=#MeToo: Priya Ramani ignited flame to harm his reputation, M J Akbar tells court |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/metoo-ramani-ignited-flame-to-harm-his-reputation-akbar-tells-court-7151356/ |access-date=22 January 2021 |work=The Indian Express |agency=Press Trust of India |date=January 18, 2021}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Luthra also told the court that the testimony and evidence offered by Niloufer Venkatraman was inadmissible.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Priyadarshini |first1=Anna |title=Priya Ramani’s Vogue article about sexual harassment is ‘fictitious’, MJ Akbar’s lawyer |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2021/01/18/priya-ramanis-vogue-article-about-sexual-harassment-is-fictitious-mj-akbars-lawyer |access-date=22 January 2021 |work=Newslaundry |date=January 18, 2021}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; On January 21, Luthra submitted to the court that Ramani&amp;#039;s deletion of her own Twitter account before cross-examination was deliberate and intended &amp;quot;to subserve the cause of justice,&amp;quot; and even though Akbar has not filed a criminal complaint for the destruction of evidence, Luthra wanted the court to take notice of Ramani&amp;#039;s conduct.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=PTI |title=Priya Ramani Deleting Twitter Account Merits Another Case: MJ Akbar To Court |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/priya-ramani-deleting-twitter-account-merits-another-case-mj-akbar-to-court-2355973 |access-date=22 January 2021 |work=NDTV |agency=Press Trust of India |date=January 21, 2021}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Ramani&amp;#039;s counsel Rebecca John began to make final arguments on January 27, 2021, arguing that Akbar&amp;#039;s arguments do not make sense based on a plain reading of Ramani&amp;#039;s &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Vogue&amp;#039;&amp;#039; article, and that the testimony of Ghazala Wahab, who has accused Akbar of sexual assault, as well as a Firstpost article introduced by Akbar&amp;#039;s legal team that provided details of allegations against Akbar, were relevant support for Ramani&amp;#039;s reference to Akbar as a &amp;#039;predator,&amp;#039; stating &amp;quot;The usage of the term predator is not defamatory. The imputation is the truth. You cannot look at defamation in isolation and shut your eyes to the rest of the world and pretend nothing is happening. Truth is painful, truth is bitter.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Sachdev 2021&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Sachdev |first1=Vakasha |title=‘Truth is Painful’: Akbar-Priya Ramani Defamation Trial Nears End |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/law/truth-is-painful-mj-akbar-priya-ramani-criminal-defamation-case-hearing-key-arguments |access-date=31 January 2021 |work=The Quint |date=January 28, 2021}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; On February 1, John continued to address Luthra&amp;#039;s arguments, including about Ramani&amp;#039;s Twitter account, noting that it had only been deactivated, not deleted, and Akbar had never filed a request and the court had not required reactivation of the accourt.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Thapliyal |first1=Nupur |title=&amp;#039;Akbar Went After Ramani As She Was A Soft Target &amp;amp; Did Not Go After Other Women As He Was Afraid&amp;#039; : Rebecca John Argues On Final Day |url=https://livelaw.in/news-updates/criminal-defamation-mj-akbar-priya-ramani-rebecca-john-final-arguments-169241 |access-date=10 February 2021 |work=LiveLaw.in |date=February 1, 2021}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; On February 10, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Quint&amp;#039;&amp;#039; published an extensive overview of the case in anticipation of the verdict on February 17, 2021.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Saran |first1=Mekhala |title=Akbar-Ramani Case: How a Journalist Was Tried for Saying #MeToo |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/law/mj-akbar-priya-ramani-case-background-explained-verdict-10-february |access-date=10 February 2021 |work=The Quint |date=February 10, 2021}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==India Love Project==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On October 28, 2020, Ramani, her husband [[Samar Halarnkar]], and their friend Niloufer Venkatraman created the India Love Project on [[Instagram]], &amp;quot;a celebration of interfaith/inter-caste love and togetherness in these divisive, hate-filled times.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=India Love Project: The Instagram account telling tales of &amp;#039;forbidden&amp;#039; love |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-54869565 |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=BBC |date=November 10, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Quint Neon |title=This Instagram Account Is Celebrating Indian Love Across Barriers |url=https://www.thequint.com/neon/social-buzz/india-love-project-instagram-account-celebrating-love |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=The Quint |date=November 10, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The Project began in response to backlash against an advertising campaign that featured an interfaith couple, and has expanded to help couples find legal and counseling assistance.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Nair |first1=Shruti |title=HT Brunch Social Media Star of the Week: India Love Project |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/ht-brunch-social-media-star-of-the-week-india-love-project/story-qEXXPHrw3KNmCtw8hspXIM.html |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=Hindustan Times |date=December 13, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; A December 2020 &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Vogue India&amp;#039;&amp;#039; profile on the India Love Project states, &amp;quot;It feels great to hear a tale about how a couple made it, how they followed their heart,&amp;quot; and describes how &amp;quot;veteran journalists&amp;quot; Ramani, Halarnkar and Venkatraman created the India Love Project &amp;quot;on the fly, without thinking through too many details, adopting a millennial entrepreneur strategy,&amp;quot; and have since been &amp;quot;absolutely inundated with responses.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Bhimjyani&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Bhimjyani |first1=Aditi |title=Love an honest love story? This is the one Instagram account telling it as it is |url=https://www.vogue.in/culture-and-living/content/love-an-honest-love-story-this-is-the-one-instagram-account-telling-it-as-it-is-india-love-project |access-date=24 December 2020 |work=Vogue India |date=December 13, 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Personal life==&lt;br /&gt;
Ramani is married to the journalist [[Samar Halarnkar]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==References==&lt;br /&gt;
{{Reflist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==External links==&lt;br /&gt;
* [https://natashabadhwar.medium.com/priya-ramani-the-editor-who-ruined-my-life-a093eefee706 Natasha Badhwar on Priya Ramani]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramani, Priya}}&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Living people]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Indian journalists]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Indian women writers]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Indian women editors]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Indian women columnists]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Indian women journalists]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kannadaguy</name></author>
	</entry>
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