AKBAR DENIES RAPE ALLEGATIONS, SAYS RELATIONSHIP ‘CONSENSUAL’

NEW DELHI — Former Union Minister M.J. Akbar on Friday termed allegations of rape by US-based journalist Pallavi Gogoi a “lie” and claimed they had entered into a “consensual relationship”.

Akbar in a statement to ANI said Gogoi’s November 2 article in the

Washington Post had detailed “false allegations of rape and violence against me”.

“I have had occasion to read this article and it has become necessary, at this point in time, to bring certain facts to light. Somewhere around 1994, Pallavi Gogoi and I entered into consensual relationship that spanned several months.

“This relationship gave rise to talk and would later cause strife in my home life as well. This consensual relationship ended, perhaps not on best note,” he said.

“People who worked with me and knew both of us have indicated that they would be happy to bear testimony to what is stated above and at no stage did the behaviour of Pallavi Gogoi give any one of them impression that she was working under duress,” he said.

Akbar also said on October 29 the Washington Post forwarded to his lawyers a “series of cryptic and non-specific questions, regarding incidents alleged to have taken place approximately 23 years ago”. “These allegations were false and were consequently denied,” he added.

In a separate statement Akbar’s wife Mallika Akbar also dismissed Gogoi’s accusations as a “lie”.

In her statement, Mallika said “more than 20 years ago, Pallavi Gogoi caused unhappiness and discord in our home. I learned of her and my husband’s involvement through her late night phone calls and her public display of affection in my presence”.

“I don’t know Pallavi’s reasons for telling this lie but a lie it is,” she added. —

I stopped fighting his (Akbar’s) advances because I felt so helpless... I’ve always felt that Akbar is above the law and justice doesn’t apply to him. I felt he would never pay the price for what he had done to me

Pallavi Gogoi, US-based journalist

Somewhere around 1994, Pallavi Gogoi and I entered into consensual relationship that spanned several months. This relationship gave rise to talk and would later cause strife in my home life as well

MJ Akbar, former union minister