Thread by @barandbench

Court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Rouse Avenue to soon begin hearing MJ Akbar's criminal defamation case against Priya Ramani.

#MeToo #PriyaRamani #MJAkbar #Metooindia

@mjakbar @IndiaMeToo

Senior Advocate Rebecca John has concluded her submissions on behalf of Priya Ramani.

barandbench.com/news/litigatio…

Senior Advocate Geeta Luthra will now begin the rebuttal on behalf of MJ Akbar.

#PriyaRamani #MJAkbar #MeToo

Person after person said that MJ Akbar had an impeccable reputation, Luthra reads out testimonies of witnesses

#PriyaRamani #MJAkbar #MeToo

There was huge publication and dissemination of Priya Ramani's tweet and the subsequent Vogue article: Luthra #PriyaRamani #MJAkbar #MeToo

Even Ramani realised that what she tweeted tarnished Akbar's reputation, Luthra #PriyaRamani #MJAkbar #MeToo

Her statements were per se defamatory, lowered his reputation, and were disseminated widely. #PriyaRamani #MJAkbar #MeToo

On defences of truth and public interest made by Ramani: The burden of proving these is on the accused, who has not discharged this burden, Luthra #PriyaRamani #MJAkbar #MeToo

Luthra reading out judgments on burden of proof for exceptions in defamation cases #PriyaRamani #MJAkbar #MeToo

Luthra points out that Ramani did not recall whether or not she wrote an article titled 'Sorry Boss, We Found our Voice' in 2013. Questions her selective memory. #PriyaRamani #MJAkbar #MeToo

Link to article: livemint.com/Opinion/dtKZjc… #PriyaRamani #MJAkbar #MeToo

It is not sufficient for only a part of the libel to be proved to be true. Truth must extend to the entire statement that is published, Luthra says, referring to judgments. #PriyaRamani #MJAkbar #MeToo

Luthra refers to Ramani's Vogue article clearly addressed to 'Dear Male Boss'. She has referred to him as a 'predator' without due care or caution. #PriyaRamani #MJAkbar #MeToo

On defence that parts of article referred to different people: There is no clarification of that, so the statements made are incorrect, Luthra #PriyaRamani #MJAkbar #MeToo

Ramani did something incorrect by deleting her Twitter account, so that no one could understand her statements. Luthra questions credibility of Ramani for making statements without due care and caution. #PriyaRamani #MJAkbar #MeToo

Hearing ends. Luthra to resume rebuttal arguments at 10:30 AM tomorrow. #PriyaRamani #MJAkbar #MeToo