On 9 September, in the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal, senior journalist Priya Ramani was cross-examined by Senior Advocate Geeta Luthra and her team in the criminal defamation case that has been filed against her by MJ Akbar. Ramani had accused Akbar of sexual harassment in the wake of the #MeToo movement in October last year.

The cross-examination lasted two sessions and is likely to continue in the next two hearings as well, on 24 and 25 October. The line of questioning used by the prosecution in today’s hearing sparked the ire of those in the courtroom as well as of people on social media.

Ever since the defamation trial started, senior journalists have come out in huge numbers to support Ramani through the proceedings.