MJ Akbar: News
Mobasher Jawed Akbar is a veteran journalist, author, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politician. Akbar started his career as a budding journalist with ‘The Times of India’ and ‘The Illustrated Weekly of India’. Within a few years, as an editor, he joined the fortnightly news magazine, ‘Onlooker,’ and later ‘Sunday,’ the weekly published by the ‘Ananda Bazaar Patrika’ (ABP) group. In 1982, Akbar launched his own daily newspaper, ‘The Telegraph’. He was a close associate of Rajiv Gandhi and ventured briefly into politics, winning the 1989 Lok Sabha election from Bihar’s Kishanganj constituency. However, he lost in the 1991 elections. In 1992, Akbar returned to journalism and launched the daily ‘The Asian Age’ in 1994, printing national and international editions. Subsequently, he launched ‘The Sunday Guardian’ in 2010. He has also worked with the ‘India Today’ group. In 2014, Akbar joined BJP and was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2015. From 2016 to 2018, he served as Minister of State (MoS) in the Foreign Affairs Ministry. After a slew of sexual harassment allegations made by over a dozen former colleagues, Akbar was forced to resign from the Ministry in 2018.
17 Feb 2021
#MeToo#MeToo: Priya Ramani acquitted in MJ Akbar's defamation case
A Delhi court on Wednesday acquitted former journalist Priya Ramani in a defamation suit filed by former Union Minister MJ Akbar.
24 Jul 2019
Sexual HarassmentAmit Shah to head panel formed to tackle sexual harassment
At the peak of #MeToo movement in October last year, the Centre had formed a Group of Ministers (GoM) panel to deal with sexual harassment at workplace. But a few days ago, an RTI inquiry revealed the panel was "dissolved".
04 May 2019
Sexual HarassmentMJ Akbar deposes in defamation suit against journalist Priya Ramani
Former Union minister MJ Akbar on Saturday recorded his statement in the defamation case he filed against journalist Priya Ramani.
10 Apr 2019
Sexual Harassment#MJAkbarCase: Defamation charge framed against journalist Priya Ramani
A Delhi court today framed defamation charge against journalist Priya Ramani in a case filed by ex-Union minister M J Akbar after she leveled allegations of sexual misconduct against him.
01 Apr 2019
#MeTooNo "defamatory" articles: Tejasvi Surya gets order to gag media
Tejasvi Surya, BJP's candidate from Bangalore South, managed to get a court order on Friday which bars 49 media houses from publishing "defamatory" articles about him.
25 Feb 2019
Sexual HarassmentJournalist Priya Ramani, sued by MJ Akbar, granted bail
On Monday, journalist Priya Ramani was granted bail by a Delhi court after she was summoned as an accused in a criminal defamation case filed by former Union minister MJ Akbar.
29 Jan 2019
India#MeToo: MJ Akbar accuser Priya Ramani summoned by court
On Tuesday, Patiala House Court issued summons to journalist Priya Ramani in the defamation case filed by the former junior minister of External Affairs, MJ Akbar. She has been asked to appear as an accused on February 25.
22 Jan 2019
Sexual HarassmentMJ Akbar defamation: Court reserves order on summoning Priya Ramani
On Tuesday, a Delhi court reserved its verdict on whether to summon journalist Priya Ramani as an accused in a defamation case filed by former Union minister MJ Akbar, who the journalist had accused of sexual misconduct.
27 Dec 2018
Narendra Modi#TripleTalaqBill: Owaisi slams Modi government for 'shielding' MJ Akbar
Rejecting the Triple Talaq Bill moved by Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi lambasted the Narendra Modi government and said the Centre was attacking religious minorities.
07 Dec 2018
IndiaIn MJ Akbar vs Priya Ramani, more witnesses record statement
Three witnesses recorded their statements on Friday against Priya Ramani, who is facing criminal defamation suit filed by former MoS External Affairs MJ Akbar.
05 Dec 2018
ParliamentThe curse of being a member of Lutyens' media
Do you want to join the elite club of Lutyens' media? Well, you can't. You are born that way, or you may have to get your genes edited to get a pass.
03 Nov 2018
#MeToo#MeToo: Wasn't a consensual-relationship: Pallavi dismisses MJ Akbar's claims
A relationship based on coercion, abuse of power is not consensual, said US-based journalist Pallavi Gogoi in her statement on Friday night after former MoS (External Affairs) MJ Akbar claimed they were in a relationship in the 1990s.
02 Nov 2018
#MeTooPallavi and I were in consensual relationship: Akbar denies rape-allegations
Former editor MJ Akbar, who was accused of rape by US-based journalist Pallavi Gogoi, has denied the charges and said they were in a consensual relationship.
02 Nov 2018
#MeTooPallavi caused unhappiness in our home, Akbar's wife defends him
Mallika, the wife of former MoS External Affairs Ministry MJ Akbar, has rubbished the allegations of rape leveled on her husband by journalist Pallavi Gogoi.
02 Nov 2018
#MeToo#MeToo: MJ Akbar raped me, journalist speaks out after years
Embattled MoS of External Affairs MJ Akbar has been accused of sexual assault by at least 20 women in the last few weeks, and now a journalist has alleged he raped her years ago.
31 Oct 2018
Sushma Swaraj#MeToo: Akbar records statement, says Ramani called him 'talented predator'
On Wednesday, former MoS of External Affairs, MJ Akbar recorded his statement in Delhi's Patiala House court in connection to defamation suit he filed against journalist Priya Ramani.
24 Oct 2018
IndiaNot "56-inch seena", but a thin-skinned man: The real Modi
If there is one adjective that defines Narendra Modi in totality, it has to be 'Frank Underwood'. Much like Underwood, Modi has 'limited' ethics, wants to win at any cost and the ever-astute man never forgives.
18 Oct 2018
IndiaFrom #BelieveAllWomen to #Can'tBeHim: Hypocrisy galore in #MeToo era
Man is a complicated creature. He must be the only living being who wants constant attention, whose actions are determined by his surroundings and who thinks he is the chosen one.
18 Oct 2018
#MeTooMJ Akbar's defamation case: Court accepts suit filed against Ramani
In the sexual harassment allegations leveled against former MoS External Ministry MJ Akbar, a Delhi court accepted the defamation case. It was filed against journalist Priya Ramani.
18 Oct 2018
Sushma Swaraj#MeToo: MJ Akbar's defamation-case against journalist to be heard today
A Delhi court on Thursday will hear the defamation case filed by former MoS External Affairs MJ Akbar, against journalist Priya Ramani.
17 Oct 2018
Sexual Harassment#MeToo: MJ Akbar resigns in light of allegations against him
Embattled Minister of State for External Affairs, MJ Akbar, has resigned from his post in light of sexual harassment allegations against him.
16 Oct 2018
Kolkata#MeToo: Another journalist accuses Akbar of sexual-harassment, amid his denials
Journalist Tushita Patel is the latest addition in the long list of women who have accused MoS External Affairs Ministry, MJ Akbar of sexual harassment, just as the former editor has rubbished the allegations.
15 Oct 2018
India#MeToo: MJ Akbar filed defamation suit against Priya Ramani
MoS External Ministry MJ Akbar has filed a defamation suit against journalist Priya Ramani through his advocates Karanjawala & Co, on Monday, at Delhi's Patiala Court.
14 Oct 2018
Nigeria#MeToo: Accused of sexual-harassment, MJ Akbar won't resign from Cabinet
MoS External Affairs, MJ Akbar, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by several women, will not resign and has vowed to take legal action against the accusers.
14 Oct 2018
#MeToo#MeToo: MJ Akbar, accused of sexual-harassment, returns; promises statement later
MoS External Affairs MJ Akbar returned to Delhi on Sunday and promised there will be a statement later, just as he faces an array of sexual harassment charges.
13 Oct 2018
Madhya Pradesh#MeToo: BJP leader says women journalists aren't so "innocent"
With the #MeToo movement having hit the BJP government, the BJP's Madhya Pradesh women wing chief Lata Kelkar has made a statement that could possibly stir up controversy.
13 Oct 2018
India#MeToo: Amit Shah says charges against Akbar will be examined
Following sexual harassment allegations against Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar, BJP chief Amit Shah has said that the allegations would be examined.
12 Oct 2018
Rahul GandhiEvery woman should be respected: Rahul Gandhi on #MeToo
Breaking his silence and coming out in favor of the #MeToo campaign, Congress President Rahul Gandhi said on Friday that it's time everyone learns to treat women with dignity.
11 Oct 2018
Uma BhartiAmid #MeToo storm, government weighing in on MJ Akbar's option
Amid the array of sexual harassment charges leveled against MoS External Affairs MJ Akbar, the government is weighing its options, IE reports quoting sources.
10 Oct 2018
Sexual HarassmentTake sexual allegations seriously: Maneka Gandhi to Centre
At a time when Union Minister and former editor MJ Akbar is facing serious allegations of sexual harassment during his tenure as a journalist, Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi has come forward and spoken about the #MeToo movement.
10 Oct 2018
Sexual Harassment#MeToo: Six-women, who accused MJ Akbar of sexual-harassment, recall horror
MoS External Affairs MJ Akbar has been accused by at least six women of sexual misconduct, becoming the latest high profile person to join the list of alleged predators in #MeToo firestorm.
26 Aug 2018
IndiaThose criticizing Modi-govt over Doklam have no IQ: MJ Akbar
Union Minister MJ Akbar said the government's handling of the Doklam crisis showed that India is "no longer the India of the 1960s".
