Thread by @barandbench

Hearing in MJ Akbar's criminal defamation case against Priya Ramani to begin before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ravindra K Pandey.

Case is at the stage of rebuttal by Akbar. Ramani has concluded her defense.

#MeToo #PriyaRamani #MJAkbar #Metooindia

@mjakbar

Hearing begins.

#MJAkbar #PriyaRamani #MeToo

@mjakbar

Senior Advocate Geeta Luthra appears for @mjakbar.

Hearing to begin as soon Senior Adv Luthra joins.

I will take have to another break when my matter comes before Supreme Court: Luthra joins.

Luthra reads Akbar's testimony.

The common thread in all our evidence and theirs is that Akbar has a reputation and that reputation is unblemished till Ramani made her averments: Luthra

It is not disputed ..but it was challenged in the last part of arguments. My witnesses were not questioned about my reputation: Luthra

I had responsibility in public life.. I was a member of Rajya Sabha and was a Minister .. was not questioned. Therefore, later in arguments, to try and raise a doubt with regard to Akbar not having a reputation is neither here nor there: Luthra

The issue before the court is Akbar's reputation and that it was blemished: Luthra

We can't lose sight of that. Whatever anyone else may say, it is not germane to the lis .. I don't have to prove Ramani's reputation or lack of reputation: Luthra

Ms Ramani's tweets became the basis of other articles: Luthra

After coming back to India, within half a day I filed my compliant before the court. All the articles .. the documents that I've have referred to emanated from her : Luthra

False, defamatory statement by her lead to repeat by other persons and media. She started this. That's why immediately after my coming back I made the complaint against her : Luthra

Luthra refers to the articles that were written after Ramani levelled the allegations against Akbar.

She targetted me: Luthra as she argues that Ramani was the first person who make the allegations against Akbar.

@mjakbar

"women have tried due process and lost hope.. ": Luthra reads the article.

Due process was available to women. When Priya says there was no availablity of due process, it is incorrect: Luthra

What they are saying is you can do a parallel trial without going to the courts and the legal system provides to redressal. This is correct.. justifies taking defamatory action without taking recourse to law : Luthra

You had no desire to go for due process. There was no interest in due process. It is much easier to malign someone, defame someone on social media: Luthra

It is impermissible. How can anyone say .. this shows about India's legal system. So you don't want to go due process and harm w person's reputation: Luthra

You acknowledge that reputation: Luthra

Luthra reads an article that called Priya Ramani the first woman to make sexual harassment allegations against MJ Akbar.

That's why I filed the complaint against her : Luthra

@mjakbar #PriyaRamani

"it is Ramani's tweet that triggered the pouring of sexual harassment messages against Akbar... ": Luthra reads another article

Luthra alleges that Ramani interfered with due process by deleting material evidence.

I'm showing Priya was the first one to do this. Unlike her and other people, I believe in due process and sanctity of law. I filed my complaint forthwith: Luthra

Have you availed due process even today? No. It was available before also: Luthra

Luthra reads Akbar's testimony.

A reputation is built brick by brick. It takes one second to destroy it but 50 years to built it. Noone cast even a single blemish. Some 10-20k employees must have worked under me.. : Luthra

I'm not giving into numbers but this would have been the magnitude. Over 50 years there was not a whisper. Reputation was unblemished. Because you don't believe in due process... Just say something.. this is not tenable: Luthra

If we look at the overall perspective.. there is no question of reputation not being stellar: Luthra

Luthra seeks permission to continue at 1 pm.

Court adjourns hearing till 1 pm.

Court assembles.

Hearing to begin once Senior Adv Luthra joins.

We'll adjourn the hearing if she's not available: Judge

Counsel seeks time to check.

Adv Sandeep Kapur for MJ Akbar requests that the matter be taken up at 2 pm.

I have another case : Judge

3 pm? : Kapur

I can't say how long the other matter would take : Judge

We can take out chance. We'll be on hold: Kapur

I would request for 12th now. The matter is already fixed for 12th: Adv Bhavook Chauhan for Ramani.

We'll take it up on 12th January : Judge

Hearing adjourned.

Senior Adv Luthra joins.

I can argue for 20 mins : Luthra

Court master asks MJ Akbar's counsel to see if defense counsel are available.

We're trying to call : Luthra

Luthra asks court if it's possible to take up the matter at 2 pm or 3 pm.

Judge says there is a physical hearing scheduled for 2 pm.

Date is already fixed : Judge

We can be on stand by: Luthra

We'll be in touch with the reader : Luthra

If the other side counsel is free, we can. We'll take up the case if possible: Court

Court breaks for lunch.

Link opens.

Court master: Sir is saying it can't happen today.

Matter adjourned till January 12.