2 more witnesses record statements backing MJ Akbar in defamation case

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court Friday recorded the statements of two witnesses in support of defamation case filed by journalist and politician MJ Akbar against his former woman colleague Priya Ramani who had levelled allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

Akbar’s two ex-colleagues — Sunil Gujral and Veenu Sandal who deposed as witnesses before additional chief metropolitan magistrate Samar Vishal — said the allegations came as a shock to them and irreparable damage was caused to his reputation.

Gujral, a businessman and printer, publisher of the Sunday Guardian, who appeared as a complainant witness to support defamation case filed by Akbar, testified that as a colleague and a friend, he never heard any whisper regarding misconduct or misbehaviour of any kind.

Regarding the allegations levelled by scribe Ramani against Akbar, he said this came as a “shock” to him and he was “very disturbed”.

“I spoke to Akbar thereafter as I felt embarrassed and let down. Besides this, my embarrassment was compounded as friends and acquaintances who knew of all my old association with Akbar of almost 40 years started asking embarrassing questions, which made me feel very bad since I felt that irreparable damage has been done to Akbar’s reputation in my estimation as well as in estimation of my friend circle and acquaintances,” said Gujral.

Sandal said she heard in the news about Ramani’s tweets on October 8 and it was a “huge jolt” that she had called Akbar a “predator” and other revelations about him. “It was very shocking and painful to think that someone you had placed on a pedestal could allegedly fall so low,” she deposed.

There was a lot of talk about this at that time and during discussions with friends and at other public places, it was embarassing to be asked questions about Akbar as people knew of her association with him, she added.