Hope Mr Akbar Pays Heed to Editors Guild’s Advice: Shutapa Paul

Shutapa Paul, one of MJ Akbar’s accusers tells The Quint, “Criminal defamation smacks of a show of power.’

Shutapa Paul, one of MJ Akbar’s accusers, tells The Quint, “Criminal defamation smacks of show of power.”

(Photo: Kamran Akhter/ The Quint)

On a day when the Patiala House court took cognisance of MJ Akbar’s defamation case, Shutapa Paul, one of the accusers, told The Quint, “Criminal defamation is definitely a show of might against the weak”.

Responding to a statement issued by the Editors Guild of India in which the panel has suggested that Akbar withdraw the defamation case, Shutapa Paul said:

“The Editors Guild has done well to remind Mr Akbar that it would be paradoxical for a veteran editor like himself to resort to criminal defamation. Therefore, we hope that Mr Akbar pays heed to this sage advice coming from the top editors’ body of the country.”

Shutapa Paul to The Quint

To a query on whether the defamation case filed by the former Union Minister of State for External Affairs is being used as a tool for intimidation, Paul said:

“When a powerful, influential person who has access to ample monetary and legal resources slaps a criminal defamation case against a journalist, it smacks of show of power.”

Shutapa Paul to The Quint

More than 20 women journalists who have worked with former Union minister and BJP leader MJ Akbar when he was an editor have levelled allegations of sexual harassment and molestation.

Akbar has filed a defamation suit against one of them, journalist Priya Ramani, so far. It was Ramani’s tweet on 8 October 2018 that led to other women journalists coming out with their shocking stories of sexual overtures by MJ Akbar.

Paul, who had worked with Akbar between 2010-2011 as a reporter with the India Today, called out her former boss on 10 October 2018:

‘We All Stand by Our Accounts’

Paul says that she is confident that the accounts shared by women journalists will “withstand legal scrutiny”.

“We all stand by our accounts”.

Shutapa Paul to The Quint

Is Akbar’s resignation a watershed moment that will make India’s newsrooms safer places for women to work?

Paul is of the opinion that “We will definitely see safer work environments for both men and women if the complaints are deal with speedily and proactively.”

‘Priya Ramani Has My Complete Support’

Ever since women journalists took to Twitter with a slew of allegations against Akbar, people have been wondering about their next course of action.

Will these women journalists file a formal complaint, in a bid to take the matter further?

“Right now we are all supporting Priya Ramani as she fights the criminal defamation case against MJ Akbar. She has my complete support.”

Shutapa Paul to The Quint

Is #MeToo an Elite & Urban Phenomenon?

Alongside the revelations by women under the #MeToo movement, a debate has been raging on whether it is just an elite and urban phenomenon.

According to Paul, the movement is bound to have a trickle-down effect.

“The #MeToo movement may have started as an ‘elite’ and urban one but the changes that it is poised to bring through will benefit all sections of the working class, both rural and urban.”

Shutapa Paul to The Quint