New Delhi, October 15: Union Minister MJ Akbar, who is facing sexual harassment allegations under the #MeToo campaign, will be defended by 97 lawyers in a Delhi court where he has slapped a defamation suit against the complainants.

Karanjawala & Co, the legal firm which will be handling Akbar's case, named 97 lawyers in the vakalatnama filed before the magistrate. While the document mentions that any among the 97 could argue before the bench, the firm has clarified that only 6 would be representing the Minister in the courtroom. Target of a Malicious, Defamatory Campaign: Akbar.

The criminal defamation suit has been filed against the journalist who levelled the first harassment allegations against Akbar. Subsequently, at least 9 more scribes had levelled the charges against him.

The alleged harassment cases date back to the days when Akbar was a veteran journalist, heading the editorial desk of a leading English national daily.

The spree of allegations against Akbar were leveled within a week's period, shortly after the #MeToo campaign gained momentum in India with former actress Tanushree Dutta claiming on social media that industry veteran Nana Patekar attempted to sexually harass her during a film shoot in 2008.

Akbar, who returned to India on Sunday after an official visit to Africa, said the accusations pressed against him are "malicious, false and fabricated, spiced up by innuendo and malice".

"Accusation without evidence has become a viral fever among some sections. Whatever be the case, now that I have returned, my lawyers will look into these wild and baseless allegations in order to decide our future course of legal action," he said, ruling out the possibility of his resignation.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 15, 2018 09:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).