Unfazed by allegations, Akbar resumes work

It was business as usual for Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar who is besieged by allegations of sexual misconduct by a dozen woman journalists.

Akbar, who was on an official visit to some African nations, returned home on Sunday morning and issued a lengthy denial, threatening to launch legal proceedings against his victims, a move that triggered a furore.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had convened a meeting with Akbar and her other ministerial colleague Gen V K Singh (retd.) to review the preparations of the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas in Varanasi in January next year.

Akbar is also learnt to have held consultations with his lawyers on Sunday and Monday before moving the local Patiala House Court to file a defamation suit against Priya Ramani, the first journalist to level allegations against him.

Later, Akbar also visited the External Affairs Ministry offices in South Block, but no details of his meetings were available.

It was not immediately known whether Swaraj had sought a separate meeting with Akbar to discuss the allegations against him.