In 2021, former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General Lakshmi Puri initiated a defamation lawsuit against Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale.
The suit arose after Gokhale published a series of tweets questioning Puri’s purchase of property in Switzerland and suggesting impropriety in her and her husband, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri’s, assets. He even tagged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, calling for an Enforcement Directorate probe.
In July 2023, the Delhi High Court ruled that Gokhale’s tweets were defamatory, invoking Shakespeare’s Othello to underscore the harm inflicted on Puri’s reputation.
Interim Injunction & Non-Compliance
Shortly after the initial ruling, the court issued an interim injunction in July 2021. Gokhale was ordered to remove the offending tweets within 24 hours and refrain from any further defamatory statements. Despite these clear instructions, he neither took down the posts nor issued an apology, prompting Puri to file a contempt petition for wilful non-compliance.
Contempt Proceedings
Saket Gokhale appeared before the Delhi High Court on February 28 and April 15, 2025, in response to the contempt petition. During these hearings, Puri’s legal team argued that Gokhale had deliberately ignored the court’s orders, thereby necessitating stricter enforcement measures.
Delhi High Court’s Latest Ruling
On May 9, 2025, Justice Anish Dayal delivered a firm directive:
Public Apology: Gokhale must publish an unconditional apology on his X handle within one week. The apology must remain visible for 6 months.
Newspaper Notice: He must also advertise the apology prominently in The Times of India.
Damages: A payment of ₹50 lakh in damages to Lakshmi Puri is to be made immediately.
No Further Defamation: Gokhale is expressly forbidden from making any future defamatory remarks about Puri on any platform.
This decision enforces the Delhi High Court’s earlier judgment of July 1, 2024, and underscores the judiciary’s intolerance for defamation and contempt.
Attachment Of Salary
Meanwhile, a separate bench led by Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, on April 24, 2025, ordered the attachment of a portion of Gokhale’s parliamentary salary to secure the ₹50 lakh damages. His salary will remain under attachment until the full amount is deposited with the court.
The court has scheduled the next hearing on September 12, 2025, to address the question of wilful non-compliance further. Arguments will focus on whether Gokhale’s past conduct merits additional sanctions.
Significance Of The Judgment
This ruling highlights several key points:
Protection of Reputation: The judiciary reaffirmed that public figures are entitled to protection from baseless allegations that could tarnish their reputation.
Enforcement of Court Orders: By imposing both financial and reputational penalties, the court sent a clear message about the seriousness of contempt proceedings.
Role of Social Media: The case underscores the legal risks of making unverified claims on social media platforms, even by elected representatives.
Conclusion
Lakshmi Puri’s persistence in pursuing legal remedies for defamation has yielded concrete enforcement: a substantial damages award, a mandated public apology, and the attachment of Gokhale’s salary.
As the matter returns to court in September, it will test the boundaries of judicial authority in curbing defamation and ensuring compliance with its orders.
Read More: Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, States High Court, International
