Union minister M.J. Akbar, who has been accused by several women journalists on social media of sexual harassment, returned to New Delhi on Sunday from a foreign tour and told reporters that “there will be a statement later'.

Multiple women in the last few days have offered their accounts of sexual harassment allegedly by Akbar when he was a journalist.

There was an indication by the BJP that it is likely to take a clear stand on the allegations of sexual harassment against Akbar once he explains his position.

The BJP has maintained a studied silence on the matter so far, party sources have said the charges against him are serious, and his continuance as a minister is no longer guaranteed.

A final call will be taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the sources said.

The Congress on Friday expressed doubts that Akbar would face action over the sexual harassment charges against him, contending that Modi had never acted against any colleague on moral grounds in his 17-year stint as chief minister and Prime Minister.

One of the Congress’s motives may have been to mount pressure on the Prime Minister to punish the junior foreign minister, who faces allegations levelled by former colleagues in media and is yet to return from a foreign trip.

BJP president Amit Shah drew flak on Saturday for suggesting that the veracity of not only the allegations against Akbar but also those who posted the accounts of alleged sexual harassment should be checked.

In an audio clip aired by Aaj Tak TV channel, a voice similar to that of Shah is heard saying: “Because something has come on a website, it is very difficult to comment on it. If anyone posts anything about an individual’s character on a website, it has to be seen where it is true or false, whether such an incident happened or not. (Whether) the person whose name is there made the post or not. You too can post something in my name. All these things will have to be seen….”