From the Newsroom: Priya Ramani acquitted in defamation case filed by M J Akbar

In your evening news brief, Priya Ramani acquitted in a defamation complaint filed by M J Akbar; Price of petrol crosses the Rs 100 per litre mark in Rajasthan and Activist Nikita Jacob granted three-week transit bail.

A Delhi court on Wednesday acquitted journalist Priya Ramani in a defamation complaint filed by former Union Minister M J Akbar against sexual harassment charges levelled against him by the former during the #MeToo campaign.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Pandey let off Ramani in a judgment, saying the right of reputation can't be protected at the cost of the right to dignity and sexual abuse takes away dignity and self-confidence.

Having noted that the incident happened two decades ago, the court said that the society must understand the impact of sexual abuse and harassment on its victims and the social stigma attached with the allegations.

For the first time ever, the price of petrol crossed the Rs 100 per litre mark in Rajasthan on Wednesday after fuel rates were hiked for the ninth day in a row.

Petrol and diesel prices were increased by 25 paise per litre each, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.

While branded or additive-laced petrol, which attracts higher taxes, had crossed the Rs 100-mark in some places in states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, this is the first time that regular petrol crossed the physiological mark.

In nine straight days, prices have gone up by Rs 2.59 per litre for petrol and Rs 2.82 per litre for diesel.

Activist Nikita Jacob, who has been accused in the Greta Thunberg toolkit case, was granted three-week transit bail by the Bombay High Court.

After the arrest of climate activist Disha Ravi, Delhi Police had intensified efforts to nab two other activists Nikita Jacob and Shantanu Mallick after obtaining non-bailable warrants against them, alleging that they were involved in preparing the "toolkit" related to the farmers' protest along with pro-Khalistani elements.