New Delhi: A criminal defamation complaint, filed by former Union minister M.J. Akbar against journalist Priya Ramani, was on Thursday sent back to the judge who was hearing the matter.

An Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) trying the case had earlier this month sent the matter to Principal District and Sessions Judge seeking transfer of the matter to another court on the ground that his court was designated to hear cases filed against lawmakers.

Principal District and Sessions Judge Sujata Kohli, however, sent the matter back to the ACMM.

Additional chief metropolitan magistrate, Rouse Avenue Court, Delhi, Vishal Pahuja made a startling announcement before the proceedings began in Mobashar Jawed Akbar v Priya Ramani recently – that his court is not competent to hear the case in view of the Supreme Court’s order in Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay v Union of India. As per this order, special courts were created for the trial of cases against MPs and MLAs.

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