[LIVE-UPDATES] [MJ Akbar Vs Priya Ramani Defamation Case] Final Arguments By Senior Advocate Rebecca John
John: Ramani has proved her case through her own evidence and that of Nilofar Venkatraman and Ghazala Wahab
John argues that Ramani's case qualifies for explanations to sec 499 - her imputation against Akbar was made in good faith and in the public interest
John: Ramani is admitting to the tweets and Vogue article, but she is contesting the fact that it lowered the reputation of Akbar
John now commences her final statement, begins by citing the 3 elements of criminal defamation under sec 499 of IPC
John: Everything I've proven in this case is relevant
John: Objections were also taken to Ghazala Wahab's statements,
'I'm obliged to contest the reputation of Akbar which was introduced to this trial by him only', John argues
John: Nilofar proved the WhatsApp exchange with Ramani in a context which qualifies as an exception to the rule of hearsay evidence
'Therefore, her evidence can't be objected to', John argues
John: Ramani had proved her WhatsApp texts with Nilofar by producing her mobile phone before the court
'Therefore, objections raised by the complainant regarding 65B certificate is unsustainable', John argues.
John: It was unfair of the complainant to ask the defence to produce the telephonic records of landline calls made in 1993
John: When you are prosecuting Ramani for her tweets, her contextualization of those tweets is a relevant fact
'Complainant's counsel took meaningless objections in this case', John argues.