"Why has this storm risen a few months before a general election? Is there an agenda? You be the judge," MJ Akbar said in his statement, alleging that all his accusers had a motive - the 2019 national election.

The veteran journalist-turned-politician said, "Lies do not have legs, but they do contain poison, which can be whipped into a frenzy." The reason why no one went to the authorities for so long, he said, was "because I had done nothing".

MJ Akbar, who headed prominent newspapers like The Telegraph and the Asian Age, has been accused of harassing younger women, especially newcomers. Some alleged that he would call women to his hotel room for job interviews. Others said he behaved inappropriately behind closed doors of his office.

The accusations started pouring in after journalist Priya Ramani tweeted on October 8 that MJ Akbar was the man she had referred to in an incident she shared in a magazine article a year ago, when the Harvey Weinstein scandal in the US fuelled the #MeToo movement.

After Ms Ramani named him, more women posted their stories against MJ Akbar - Prerna Singh Bindra, Ghazala Wahab, Shutapa Paul, Anju Bharti, Suparna Sharma, Shuma Raha, Malini Bhupta, Kanika Gahlout, Kadambari M Wade, Majlie de Puy Kamp and Ruth David.

"Priya Ramani began this campaign a year ago with a magazine article. She did not, however, name me as she knew it was an incorrect story. Asked recently why she had not named me, she replied, in a Tweet: "Never named him because he didn't 'do' anything"... If I didn't do anything, where and what is the story?" Mr Akbar said.

"Shutapa Paul states, "The man never laid a hand on me." Shuma Raha says, "I must clarify, however, that he didn't actually 'do' anything". One woman, Anju Bharti, went to the absurd extent of claiming I was partying in a swimming pool. I do not know how to swim," his statement read.

The Congress, CPM and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen had demanded Mr Akbar's sacking on moral grounds. He should either clarify or quit, said the Congress.

MJ Akbar's boss, foreign minister Sushma Swaraj, did not commentand others Maneka Gandhi and Smriti Irani came out strongly in support of the #MeToo campaign. Maneka Gandhi, the Minister for Women and Child Development, asked for an investigation.