Delhi High Court Orders Saket Gokhale to Pay ₹50 Lakh in Defamation Case

In a significant ruling today, the Delhi High Court has directed Trinamool Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Saket Gokhale, to pay ₹50 lakh in damages in connection with a defamation case filed against him by former diplomat Lakshmi Puri. The case revolves around tweets made by Mr. Gokhale in June 2021, where he alleged that Lakshmi Puri had acquired property in Switzerland disproportionate to her income. These tweets also mentioned her husband, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri.

Additionally, the court has mandated that Mr. Gokhale issue a public apology on social media, to remain on his handle for at least six months. Furthermore, he is required to publish the same apology in a leading national newspaper within eight weeks. The lawsuit, filed through legal firm Karanjawala and Company on behalf of Lakshmi Puri, accused Mr. Gokhale of making false, defamatory, and slanderous statements against her and her family. It emphasized that Ms. Puri’s professional status at the time did not warrant public scrutiny of her private financial transactions without consent.

This legal battle underscores the high stakes involved in public statements about private individuals, particularly when concerning allegations of financial impropriety. The court’s decision reflects a firm stance on the accountability of public discourse and the consequences of making unsubstantiated claims against public figures.

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