A court in Delhi on Thursday admitted a criminal defamation suit filed by former Minister M.J. Akbar against journalist Priya Ramani, the first in a long list of female journalists to have accused him of sexual harassment.

After taking cognisance of the defamation suit, the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate at the Patiala House court listed the matter for October 31 when the statements of the plaintiff and his witnesses would be recorded.