Journalist Priya Ramani on Saturday recorded her statement as a witness in a defamation plaint filed against her by former Union Minister MJ Akbar. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal's court recorded her statement.

In her statement as a witness, Ramani said, "At 7 pm, my friend Nilofer dropped me at Oberoi (hotel). When I reached the lobby and looked around for Mr Akbar but after I could not see him, I asked the reception to connect me to him. He asked me to come up to his room. I was silent and hesitant, he then reiterated and asked me to come up. I thought the interview would be at the coffee shop or lobby but I was 23 and not that confident to say, 'No I will wait for you in the lobby'."