Latest news with #Gokhale
Scroll.in
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Delhi HC warns TMC MP Saket Gokhale of jail for failing to apologise to ex-diplomat
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a show cause notice to Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale asking why he should not be sent to jail for failing to issue a public apology to former diplomat Lakshmi Puri in compliance with the court's orders, Live Law reported. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora said that Gokhale, by failing to follow the order, was mocking court proceedings. The court has granted Gokhale a week to respond to the show cause notice, and said the matter will be heard next on September 3. In July 2024, the High Court ruled that Gokhale made 'incorrect, false and untrue' allegations about Puri, including claims that she had purchased property in Switzerland with disproportionate assets. Puri had sued Gokhale, alleging that his social media posts were 'defamatory, malicious and based on false information'. In its verdict, the court had ordered Gokhale to apologise in a leading English daily and on his X handle. He was also directed to pay Rs 50 lakh in damages. Gokhale subsequently sought to recall the July 2024 order, arguing that it was issued ex parte, or in his absence, after his counsel stopped appearing. Meanwhile, Puri approached the High Court to demand that the order be enforced. She also filed a contempt of court case against Gokhale for not complying with the order. In response, Gokhale's lawyer proposed submitting an apology in a sealed cover until his plea challenging the High Court's order was decided. However, Justice Anish Dayal on May 9 dismissed the request and ordered Gokhale to issue a public apology in two weeks – or by May 23. On Wednesday, Puri's lawyer pointed out that Gokhale was yet to comply with the court's order and should not be heard in the proceedings for the execution of the judicial directive until he apologises. Gokhale's counsel admitted the order had not been followed and no appeal was filed against the May 9 ruling. Puri's lawyer suggested appointing a local commissioner to publish the apology on Gokhale's behalf, but Gokhale's counsel argued the apology is personal and must be made by him. The court responded: 'How will I enforce the direction? You are saying that I cannot do this. There are two options. One is that you say you cannot do it. Two, I have to put you in detention…. I am putting you to notice. If you don't publish then we will issue orders of detention.' The judge also told Puri's lawyer that Gokhale was violating the court's direction and thus in his view he should be sent to jail, as appointing a local commissioner to carry out the task would not amount to compliance. On May 2, the court had declined to withdraw its order directing Gokhale to pay Rs 50 lakh. On April 24, the High Court had also directed that the Rajya Sabha MP's monthly salary of Rs 1.9 lakh be attached each month for failing to comply with the order to deposit Rs 50 lakh as damages. Puri, a former assistant secretary-general at the United Nations and wife of Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, had filed the defamation case in 2021. She argued that her reputation was tarnished by Gokhale's 'reckless and false allegations' regarding an apartment in Geneva. Gokhale had questioned how Puri could afford the property on her income as a former Indian Foreign Service officer on deputation to the UN Conference on Trade and Development. He had also tagged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in his posts, calling for an Enforcement Directorate inquiry in the matter.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
HC warns TMC MP of civil imprisonment
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Saket Gokhale as to why he should not be sent to civil prison over his failure to pay Rs 50 lakh as damages in a defamation case to former diplomat Lakshmi Puri, wife of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. A single-judge Bench of Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora was hearing a plea filed by former diplomat Lakshmi Puri seeking execution of the judgment passed in July last year. The Delhi High Court had ordered the Trinamool leader to pay Rs 50 lakh damages in a defamation case filed by former diplomat Lakshmi Puri. It had also directed Gokhale to publish an apology in a newspaper and on his social media platform X within four weeks for publishing wrong and unverified allegations. Further, the Delhi HC had directed that the apology tweet published on Gokhale's X account should be retained for six months. Earlier in April, Gokhale's salary, which he draws as a Member of Parliament, was ordered to be attached until the sum of Rs 50 lakh was deposited with the registry. The Delhi High Court, in December last year, had issued notice on a contempt plea filed by Lakshmi Puri against Gokhale for his 'wilful and deliberate non-compliance' of its judgment. It had then ordered the Rajya Sabha member to file an affidavit within the next four weeks disclosing all his assets, properties, and bank accounts and deposits. The defamation suit was filed following Gokhale's successive X posts accusing Lakshmi Puri of purchasing property in Switzerland disproportionate to her income. He also named Hardeep Puri in the tweets.
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Delhi HC issues notice to TMC MP Saket Gokhale over non-compliance with defamation judgment
New Delhi [India], May 28 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to Trinamool Congress leader (TMC) and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, Saket Gokhale, directing him to explain why he should not face civil imprisonment for failing to apologize to former diplomat Lakshmi Puri over defamatory social media posts. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora presided over the hearing of an execution petition filed by Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri, seeking enforcement of the final judgment and decree dated July 1, 2024. The ruling had mandated Gokhale to pay Rs 50 lakh in damages within eight weeks and publish a public apology both in a newspaper and on his X (formerly Twitter) account within four weeks. On April 24, 2025, the High Court had ordered the attachment of Gokhale's salary, amounting to Rs 1,90,000 per month, until the full decretal sum of Rs 50 lakh was realised. Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, representing Lakshmi Puri, highlighted that a coordinate bench hearing a contempt petition had, on May 9, 2025, directed Gokhale to issue the apology within two weeks as per the decree. Singh pointed out that this directive had neither been disclosed to the current Court nor challenged through an appeal, and more significantly, it had not been complied with. After hearing submissions from both sides, including arguments from Gokhale's Counsel, Naman Joshi, the Court noted that the Judgment Debtor appeared to be disregarding its directives and judicial process. The Court observed that despite granting additional time for compliance, Gokhale had failed to adhere to the decree dated July 1, 2024, as well as the subsequent order issued on May 9, 2025. In response, the Court issued a show-cause notice to Gokhale, requiring him to explain why he should not be sent to civil imprisonment. The Court further directed him to file a reply within a week. Lakshmi Puri was represented by Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, briefed by Karanjawala & Company. (ANI)
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Defamation case: Delhi HC warns Trinamool MP Saket Gokhale of civil imprisonment
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Saket Gokhale as to why he should not be sent to civil prison over his failure to pay Rs 50 lakh as damages in a defamation case to former diplomat Lakshmi Puri, wife of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. A single-judge Bench of Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora was hearing a plea filed by former diplomat Lakshmi Puri seeking execution of the judgment passed in July last year. The Delhi High Court had ordered the Trinamool leader to pay Rs 50 lakh damages in a defamation case filed by former diplomat Lakshmi Puri. It had also directed Gokhale to publish an apology in a newspaper and on his social media platform X within four weeks for publishing wrong and unverified allegations. Further, the Delhi HC had directed that the apology tweet published on Gokhale's X account should be retained for six months. Earlier in April, Gokhale's salary, which he draws as a Member of Parliament, was ordered to be attached until the sum of Rs 50 lakh was deposited with the registry. The Delhi High Court, in December last year, had issued notice on a contempt plea filed by Lakshmi Puri against Gokhale for his "wilful and deliberate non-compliance" of its judgment. It had then ordered the Rajya Sabha member to file an affidavit within the next four weeks disclosing all his assets, properties, and bank accounts and deposits. The defamation suit was filed following Gokhale's successive X posts accusing Lakshmi Puri of purchasing property in Switzerland disproportionate to her income. He also named Hardeep Puri in the tweets. The Delhi High Court had held that the plaintiff suffered irreparable harm on account of Gokhale's defamatory statements. It said: "The defendant (Gokhale) is restrained from publishing further defamatory content against the plaintiff. Damages to the tune of Rs 50,00,000 are awarded to the plaintiff for the harm caused to her reputation." On May 2, a single-judge Bench of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav rejected the plea filed by the Trinamool Congress seeking recall of the judgment passed in July last year.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Delhi HC refuses to accept TMC MP Saket Gokhale's apology in a ‘sealed cover'
The Delhi High Court has rejected TMC MP Saket Gokhale's proposal to place his apology for defamatory posts on X against Union Minister Hardeep Puri's wife, Lakshmi Puri, in a 'sealed cover.' '...the proposal of placing the apology in a sealed cover is rejected and the apology as directed by the judgment/decree shall be published within the next two weeks, in the manner decreed,' the court said in its May 9 order. The court noted that Mr. Gokhale has not complied with the July 1, 2024 direction of the court to issue an apology and pay ₹50 lakh in damages to the former Indian diplomat. The court's order follows a petition by Mrs. Puri claiming that Mr. Gokhale tarnished her goodwill and reputation by making reckless and false allegations about her financial affairs in the context of an apartment that she owned in Geneva. '... in the opinion of this court, there is no reason why the court should take the apology in a sealed cover and then wait for the result of an appeal,' the court said. Defendant stalled It said, 'Considering that the decree was passed in July 2024, no challenge was preferred in the statutory period, the challenge which was finally preferred was dismissed with a detailed judgment, and the respondent (Mr. Gokhale) has simply tarried, lingered and procrastinated, but still not complied with the judgment/decree.' The court said Mr. Gokhale was a parliamentarian and a reputed member of society, and more than 10 months had passed but till date there was no order secured from the court impeding the compliance of the July 1, 2024 judgment.
