“I feel vindicated." The inspiring story of how journalist Priya Ramani got the court to toss out MJ Akbar's defamation suit. #MeToo
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00:00Sexual harassment has got the attention it deserves, despite the fact that it was me, the victim, who had to stand up in court as the accused.
00:10Priya came on the stand. She testified about what had happened to her in 1993 in a hotel room.
00:17We also produced another incredible woman who came as a defense witness,
00:21who also spoke about her story of sexual harassment with the same gentleman.
01:30Sexual harassment has got the attention it deserves, despite the fact that it was me, the victim, who had to stand up in court as the accused.
01:42I thank everyone who stood by me, especially my two witnesses, Gazala Wahab and Nilofer Venkatraman, who came to court and testified on my behalf.
01:53I thank the court for this verdict. I thank my lawyers, Rebecca John and her amazing team, who believed in me and in the wider cause.
02:02They put their heart and soul in this case.
02:05Very significant observations were made with respect to the defense of sexual harassment at the workplace.
02:11Firstly, the defense of truth. As you know, Priya came on the stand. She testified about what had happened to her in 1993 in a hotel room.
02:19She was subjected to cross-examination. We produced a corroborative witness in her defense.
02:24We also produced another incredible woman who came as a defense witness,
02:29who also spoke about her story of sexual harassment with the same gentleman.
02:34All in all, the court came to the conclusion that the defense of truth pleaded by Priya Ramani was vindicated,
02:41that he believed that defense and therefore no case of defamation was made out.
02:45Priya Ramani's defense had been that the MeToo movement gave her the courage and the platform to make these statements.
02:53The disclosures were made in 2018, if you recall.
02:56The judge has said that in 1993, when the incident took place, there was no mechanism by virtue of which she could have sought redressal.
03:08Therefore, her late disclosure, as was being alleged by the other side, was of no consequence.
03:15The MeToo movement gave several women from several professions the platform to make these disclosures.
03:24It was made in good faith. It was made in public interest. It was their truth.
03:29I think that's important because the court has believed Priya and has said that whatever she testified on oath was her truth and he sees no reason to disbelieve her.