A Delhi court will decide next week if former Union Minister MJ Akbar's defamation suit against journalist Priya Ramani merits a trial and whether she should be summoned as an accused. Under the law, defamation carries a sentence of two-year jail term or fine or both. In case of a negative decision on January 29, Mr Akbar can appeal in a higher court. Ms Ramani has accused Akbar of sexual misconduct, which, she said, took place around 20 years ago. Her tweet - posted amid last year's MeToo wave in the country -- had opened the floodgates, with around a dozen women stepping forward with similar allegations against the former editor.
