Four women level sexual harassment allegations against M J Akbar ; Sushma Swaraj silent

He was first named in a tweet by journalist Priya Ramani, who identified Akbar as the unnamed editor whose inappropriate behaviour she had written about in an article in Vogue India in October 2017.

I began this piece with my MJ Akbar story. Never named him because he didn’t “do” anything. Lots of women have worse stories about this predator—maybe they’ll share. #ulti https://t.co/5jVU5WHHo7

— Priya Ramani (@priyaramani) October 8, 2018
Ramani’s tweet was one in the series of similar sexual harassment allegations on social media against men in journalism. In response to her tweet, at least three other women journalists made allegations of sexual harassment against Akbar.

Akbar has been the editor of prominent newspapers like The Telegraph, Asian Age and The Sunday Guardian, is a member of the Rajya Sabha from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

However, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday remained silent to journalists' questions as to whether any action would be taken against her junior minister on the basis of the allegations.

In her piece titled “To the Harvey Weinsteins of the world” published in Vogue India in October last year, Ramani had alleged that “Akbar is an expert on obscene phone calls, texts, inappropriate compliments and not taking no for an answer.”

“You know how to pinch, pat, rub, grab and assault. Speaking up against you still carries a heavy price that many young women cannot afford to pay,” the article reads.

While the article at the time of publishing did not mention the name of harasser in question, the woman who penned the piece confirmed her allegation and named MJ Akbar.
Soon after Ramani’s tweet, other journalists also accused Akbar of calling women to his hotel rooms for interviews, or making women feel uncomfortable by seeking to be alone with them.

He was this brilliant,flamboyant #editor who dabbled in politics, who called me-my 1st job- to his hotel room to 'discuss work', after i put the edition to bed-read midnight, & made life at work hell when i refused.,cudnt speak up due to various compulsions, but yes #MeTooIndia

— prerna singh bindra

Another woman journalist has also said that she was called to Akbar's hotel room for an interview for Asian Age, in Kolkata's Taj Bengal in 1995. She clarifies that he didn't actually "do" anything, but that "the whole experience of an interview sitting on a bed in a hotel room followed by an invitation to come over for a drink that evening was rattling and deeply uncomfortable".
In this case, #MeToo. Year: 1995, Place Taj Bengal, Kolkata. After that encounter, I declined the job offer.

— Shuma Raha (@ShumaRaha) October 8, 2018
I must clarify, however, that he didn't actually "do" anything. But the whole experience of an interview sitting on a bed in a hotel room followed by an invitation to come over for a drink that evening, was rattling and deeply uncomfortable.

— Shuma Raha (@ShumaRaha) October 8, 2018

Several others have also replied on the Twitter thread expressing a lack of surprise at the number of times such incidents have been mentioned accusing Akbar.