The hashtag became a trend in the year 2018 in India however, it was first used back in 2006 by Tarana Burke is the founder of this movement. As we moved through 2018, here in India the movement captured attention on Twitter quickly but it gained momentum when celebrities like Tanushree Dutta, Sandhya Mridul, Nayani Dixit, and a few others came forward accusing the biggies of the industry.
One such case was that of, Priya Ramnani!
Who is Priya Ramnani?
Ms. Ramani who is a journalist had accused the former editor and the Former Union Minister, MJ Akbar of sexual misconduct amid the #MeToo movement of 2018. She had tweeted a newspaper article she wrote a year ago, where she accused a “former boss” of being a “sexual predator”.
Later in court, she said the incident took place around 20 years ago. Mr. Akbar, who headed Asian Age at the time, had called her to his hotel bedroom for a job interview and behaved inappropriately, she had told the court.
However, later on in a 41-page defamation suit, Mr. Akbar alleged that Priya Ramani’s tweets and newspaper article had spoiled the reputation and goodwill he built over 40 years and he had to step down from PM Modi’s government.
“Sexual harassment has got the attention it deserves even though it is me, being the victim who had to stand up in court as the accused,” she said. “I hope it will discourage powerful men from filing false cases against women who share their truths,” – she quotes to the press
The Verdict?
“Women can’t be punished for raising instances of sexual abuse,” the court said, adding that “right of reputation” — a reference to MJ Akbar’s suit — “cannot be protected at the cost of the right to dignity”.
She is acquitted from all the charges that were put on her for raising her voice.
“Even a man of (high) social status (standing) can be a sexual harasser,” Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Pandey said, “It can’t be ignored that most times sexual harassment is committed behind closed doors”.
“Most of the women who suffer abuse can’t often speak up due to stigma and attack on their character,” he added.
It was rather brave of her to stand and speak up about something that happened years ago with her. I am not surprised to know that society penalized her for not speaking too soon or for attempting to defame him. But, in reality, she stands to be the hero for each one of us to take inspiration from.