'I have been silent all this while as a ‘me too’ campaign has been unleashed against my husband, MJ AKbar', writes his wife. Read her statement

Standing by and concurring with her husband's statement that he did not rape Pallavi Gogoi, when the two were working at the Asian Age, Mallika Akbar, wife of former MoS MEA MJ Akbar, has pinned the blame on the victim in this case, accusing her of having causing unhappiness and discord at their house.

In a statement accessed by Republic TV, Mallika can be seen putting the blame of whatever happened in the past on Pallavi, while making it clear that the relationship between Akbar and Pallavi was consensual. Her message read:

I have been silent all this while as a ‘me too’ campaign has been unleashed against my husband, Mr. M.J. Akbar. However, the Washington Post article by Pallavi Gogoi alleging that she was raped by him forces me to step in with what I know to be true. More than twenty years ago, Pallavi Gogoi caused unhappiness and discord in our home. I learned of her and my husband’s involvement through her late night phone calls and her public display of affection in my presence. In her flaunting the relationship, she caused anguish and hurt to my entire family. At an Asian Age party at our home, crowded with young journalists, I have watched with mortification and pain as they danced close. I had confronted my husband at the time and he decided to prioritize his family. Tushita Patel and Pallavi Gogoi were often at our home, happily drinking and dining with us. Neither carried the haunted look of victims of sexual assault. I don’t know Pallavi’s reasons for telling this lie but a lie it is.

This is the first time that Mallika has spoken about any kind of allegation leveled against her husband, despite as many as 16 women accusing the former editor of Asian Age of sexual harassment.

READ: MJ Akbar Refutes Journalist Pallavi Gogoi's Allegation Of Rape, Says 'we Entered Into Consensual Relationship'

Her statement came at the very same time when MJ Akbar released a statement to ANI, wherein he completely denied the allegation against him by Pallavi. The under-fire MP refuted having raped her, though, did admit to having a relationship with her in the past.

On Oct 29, the Washington Post forwarded to my lawyers a series of cryptic and non-specific questions, regarding incidents alleged to have taken place approximately 23 years ago. These allegations were false and were consequently denied.

On 2 Nov, 2018, the Washington Post ran a piece written by Ms. Pallavi Gogoi, detailing false allegations of rape and violence against me. I have had occasion to read this article and it has become necessary, at this point in time, to bring certain facts to light.

Somewhere around 1994, Ms. Pallavi Gogoi&I entered into consensual relationship that spanned several months.This relationship gave rise to talk &would later cause strife in my home life as well. This consensual relationship ended, perhaps not on best note.

Ppl who worked with me&knew both of us have indicated that they would be happy to bear testimony to what is stated above&at no stage, did the behavior of Pallavi Gogoi, give any one of them impression that she was working under duress.