DELHI/ ISLAMABAD (ENN) The former journalist has been accused of sexual harassment by several women who were his former colleagues.
Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar resigned on October 17, 2018 amid allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by several women journalists.
“Since I have decided to seek justice in a court of law in my personal capacity, I deem it appropriate to step down from office and challenge false accusations levied against me, also in a personal capacity,” said a statement penned by Akbar, a former journalist, and released by ANI.
“I have, therefore, tendered my resignation from the office of Minister of State for External Affairs. I am deeply grateful to the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and to the External Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj for the opportunity they gave me to serve my country,” the statement added.
On October 15, 2018, Mr. Akbar filed a criminal defamation complaint against senior journalist Priya Ramani.
In his complaint, filed in the court of chief metropolitan magistrate Deepak Sherawat at the Patiala House courts in Delhi, Akbar sought Ms. Ramani’s prosecution for “wilfully, deliberately, intentionally and maliciously defaming” him.
Akbar cited an open letter by Ms. Ramani published in Vogue magazine last October and her tweets naming him.
The Opposition has been asking Akbar to tender his resignation since the allegations surfaced.
