New Delhi: Facing allegations of sexual harassment, Union minister MJ Akbar on Sunday said that making accusations without evidence has become a viral fever among some sections. Denying all accusations against him as baseless, the senior journalist-turned-minister said he will take legal action.

“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,”  Akbar said in a statement.

“The allegations of misconduct made against me are false and fabricated, spiced up by innuendo and malice. I could not reply earlier as I was on an official tour abroad,” added Akbar.

Hinting that there is a political motive behind the allegations against him, Akbar said, “Why has this storm risen a few months before a general election? Is there an agenda? You be the judge. These false, baseless and wild allegations have caused irreparable damage to my reputation and goodwill.”

“Lies do not have legs, but they do contain poison, which can be whipped into a frenzy. This is deeply distressing. I will be taking appropriate legal action,” the minister added.