India's Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar has resigned from office amid sexual harassment allegations raised by his former colleagues.
The editor-turned-politician was accused of sexual harassment by his former colleagues during his stint as editor of The Asian Age, reports NDTV.
"Since I have decided to seek justice in a court of law in my personal capacity, I deem it appropriate to step down from office and challenge false accusations levied against me, also in a personal capacity," MJ Akbar said.
"I have, therefore, tendered my resignation from the office of Minister of State for External Affairs. I am deeply grateful to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and to the external Affair Minister Smt Sushma Swaraj for the opportunity they gave me to serve my country," he said in a statement.
Akbar, 67, has been named in multiple accounts that have surfaced in the #MeToo movement that started in India after former actor Tanushree Dutta accused her co-star Nana Patekar of harassment during a film shoot 10 years ago.
