New Delhi: After denying charges of sexual harassment charges against him, Union minister of state for external affairs MJ Akbar has now filed a defamation suit against journalist Priya Ramani, who was the first to frame him in the #MeToo 'movement'.

Akbar, who has been accused by a dozen women of harassment or molestation, had said on Sunday that his lawyers were exploring legal action on the allegations. The opposition had demanded his resignation from the government.

The minister has accused Ramani of "wilfully, deliberately, intentionally and maliciously" defaming him and has sought her prosecution under the penal provision on defamation. 

On Sunday, as he returned from a week-long foreign trip, he made it clear he would contest the allegations rather than resign.

In a statement, the 67-year-old journalist-turned-politician said, “Accusation without evidence has become a viral fever among some sections. The allegations false, fabricated, wild and baseless, and spiced up by innuendo.”

Ramani, who is a celebrated editor, had named Akbar, who has been editor of newspapers like The Telegraph and The Asian Age, in a tweet on October 8. 

After Ramani, at least 11 women posted their stories against Akbar. They were Prerna Singh Bindra, Ghazala Wahab, Shutapa Paul, Anju Bharti, Suparna Sharma, Shuma Raha, Malini Bhupta, Kanika Gahlout, Kadambari M Wade, Majlie de Puy Kamp and Ruth David.

To that, Akbar said, “Lies do not have legs, but they do contain poison, which can be whipped into a frenzy.”