In a recent development at the Delhi High Court, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav has issued a notice to Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri, a former diplomat and United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, in response to Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Saket Gokhale’s plea. Gokhale is challenging a previous court order that mandated him to issue an apology and pay a compensation of Rs 50 lakh to Puri following a defamation claim.
The case stems from a July 1, 2024, verdict where the High Court had ordered Gokhale to publish an apology and pay damages for defamatory statements made against Puri, including insinuations of financial impropriety linked indirectly to her husband, BJP leader Hardeep Singh Puri. The court had also prohibited Gokhale from posting any further derogatory content about Puri on social media or any electronic platform.
Gokhale, who sought to recall the decision and condone a delay of over 180 days in seeking relief, was reminded by the court that the absence of his lawyer from proceedings was his responsibility. During the hearing, the court emphasized the seriousness of the allegations and the impact on Puri’s reputation, describing Gokhale’s actions as “extremely irresponsible.”
Furthermore, Puri’s counsel opposed the applications, indicating that the decisions were made after Gokhale was duly notified, and pointed out that related pleas for contempt action and execution of the decision are still pending before other benches.
Justice Kaurav urged both parties to consider settling the matter amicably, suggesting that an apology alone would not suffice without some form of symbolic compensation. The court reiterated the need for Gokhale to address the implications of his actions responsibly.
This legal battle began in 2021 when Puri accused Gokhale of tarnishing her reputation by making reckless and false allegations concerning her financial dealings, particularly related to an apartment in Geneva. Puri initially sought Rs 5 crore in damages, with a proposal to deposit the amount in the PM CARES Fund and for the removal of the offending tweets.
