Thread by @barandbench

Court of ACMM Samar Vishal assembles to hear MJ Akbar's defamation case against Priya Ramani.

Court to record statement of Ramani's witness, Niloufer Venkatraman.

#metooindia #MeToo

#PriyaRamani #MJAkbar

@mjakbar

Court administers oath to Niloufer Venkatraman.

I live in Mumbai with my family.. I work as an editorial consultant for Roundglass Sustain which is a wildlife and conservation website.., Niloufer begins

From Nov 2011 to March 2017, I was Editor in Chief of National Geographic Traveller India Magazine.., Niloufer continues to state her professional credentials.

On October 8, 2018, late in the evening I open my Twitter feed to find my friend Priya Ramani had tweeted. Her tweet called out the sexual harassment she had faced under Mr Akbar and referred to an article she had written in Vogue a year earlier, Niloufer

I clicked on the link and read the articles. Just a few days before her tweets I was wondering if she would call Me Akbar out as I was well aware of the interview because I was present on that very day with her until a few mins before the interview began, Niloufer

Later that night I had talked to her and heard the details, Niloufer.

I immediately sent her a WhatsApp message saying that I had been thinking just two days ago about whether she would call out Mr Akbar and I expressed my support for her, Niloufer

Priya responded with heart emojis. A few mins later, I messaged her again telling her that I had delayed my daughter's bedtime that night to explain to her what #MeToo was about and that Priya had spoken out, Niloufer

In 1988, I had finished my bachelor's degree and joined an evening course at the Xavier's Institute of Communication and Priya had joined the same course which is where he met and quickly became friends. A year later, I left India to study in the US for a master degree., Niloufer

I finished my master but just a few months before that in August 1991, Priya came to the same University for masters in journalism. She stayed with me until she found a suitable accommodation, Niloufer.

I went back to the US for my PhD. Priya and I were in the same university band interacted frequently. In Nov 1993, Priya had finished her masters and I had finished my course work.. we decided to travel together to India.. we landed in Mumbai on Nov 13, 1993, Niloufer

Priya and I stayed in touch both on phone and met often. She was keen to find a job in journalism and was looking out for job opportunities, Niloufer

I started some research work and writing up grant applications for my phd field work. I worked out of my mother's office at Nariman Point where there was a free cabin space that she allowed me to use. My mother ran a travel agency..based at Arcadia Building, Nariman, Niloufer

Aometime in Dec 1933. Priya called me on the office landline. She told me that she had earlier that day gone to the office of soon to be launched, Asian Age and there she had met the Editor Mr Akbar and he had told her to come to Oberoi Hotel for an interview, Niloufer

At about 6 pm, Priya arrived at my mother's office. We walked out towards the sea facing promenade opposite the Oberoi Hotel. As we walked..we discussed the possible interview questions, salary expectations. I did kind of a mock interview.., Niloufer

A few mins before 7pm, I walked her to the entrance of Oberoi Hotel and she went in and I left to go home, Niloufer.

Much later, well after dinner time, Priya called me on my landline. She sounded upset and distraught. I asked her why she sounded so upset. She told me that the interview hadn't gone as we had expected, Niloufer

To begin with, it was not conducted in the coffee shop or lobby. Instead, she had been called upto Mr Akbar's room where they were alone, Niloufer

I recall that she went on to describe her extremely uncomfortable details of what had happened a few hours earlier. She described feeling extremely uncomfortable as he offered her an alcoholic drink and was having a drink himself, Niloufer

She also described him singing old hindi songs to her, which sounded most unprofessional..she narrated how he patted the surface next to him on a small sofa and asked her to sit close to him, Niloufer

The details she described were so bizarre and inappropriate that I have a picture of it in my mind to this day, Niloufer

This is why I messaged her immediately after seeing her tweet and article, Niloufer

The conversation that night continued for a long time. We discussed whether Priya should take the job if she was offered it. She asked me what I thought and I said that she should take it, Niloufer

In hindsight I can see it was inexperience and naivete with which I said that. Priya also confided with me that she was not going to tell her parents the uncomfortable details of the interview as it would upset them, Niloufer

As it turned out, Priya did get the job at Asain Age office in Delhi. Two weeks after she went to Delhi, she called me to say that she had returned to Mumbai and would now work out of the Asian Age Office in Mumbai, Niloufer

I have known Priya Ramani for 30 years and have remained close friends, Niloufer concludes.

I need time to cross examine her because she has come prepared like she was a ghost in the room (at The Oberoi), Senior Advocate Geeta Luthra.

Ghost in the alleged room I said, Luthra.

Senior Advocate Rebecca John defends the testimony of Niloufer.

This is covered by the principle of res gestae under Evidence Law, John.

John objects to the adjournment being sought by the complainant.

I will record their undertaking that they (complainant) would finish the cross examination in one day. Another adjournment will not be given, Judge.

Luthra says she'll ask just one question as part of the cross examination.

Luthra: Did you read the comments of other people on Ramani's tweets?

Niloufer: I did not.

Proceedings adjourned for the day.

Matter to be taken up on November 6.