Latest news with #LakshmiPuri
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Defamation case: TMC MP Saket Gokhale apologises to ex-diplomat Lakshmi Puri; calls allegations 'unverified'
Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale and former diplomat Lakshmi Puri NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale on Tuesday issued an apology to former diplomat Lakshmi Puri, the wife of Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, for his posts on social media against her over the purchase of a property in Switzerland. In a post on X, Gokhale said that he regretted putting out a series of tweets that contained wrong and unverified allegations about the purchase of property by Ambassador Puri abroad. "I unconditionally apologise for having put-out a series of tweets against Amb. Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri on 13th and 23rd June 2021, which tweets contained wrong and unverified allegations in relation to the purchase of property by Amb. Puri abroad, which I sincerely regret," he said. Last year, the Delhi high court imposed a Rs 50 Lakh fine on Saket Gokhale for defaming Lakshmi Puri, and had asked him to issue a public apology. The high court determined that allegations suggesting financial misconduct regarding a Swiss property purchase by former diplomat Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri were aimed at her spouse, BJP 's Hardeep Singh Puri. The court deemed Gokhale's publication of "derogatory content" without verification as "extremely irresponsible". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The court stated that while monetary compensation cannot fully restore a damaged reputation, it ordered Gokhale to pay Rs 50 lakh in damages within eight weeks. The apology must remain on his X handle for six months from the posting date. The judge concluded that "the offending posts are per se defamatory" and caused unwarranted legal injury to her standing. The allegations of financial impropriety fundamentally damaged her reputation, resulting in diminished social status and psychological distress, compounded by false accusations. The case originated when Puri filed a petition in the high court in 2021.
Hans India
29-05-2025
- 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.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
No apology, Delhi HC asks TMC MP why he should not be detained
Photo/Agencies NEW DELHI: Delhi high court issued a notice to TMC MP Saket Gokhale, asking him to explain why he should not be put into civil detention for "wilful non-compliance" with its order to publish an apology for defaming former diplomat Lakshmi Puri. Taking a strong view of Gokhale's failure to publish the apology even after the timeline fixed by the court had elapsed, a single bench of Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora observed that he was mocking the court and its process, and issued a notice under Code of Civil Procedure. "According to me, he has to go to jail," the judge observed. HC granted one week to the Rajya Sabha member to respond to the notice. The matter will be heard on Sept 3.
India Gazette
28-05-2025
- 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
28-05-2025
- 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.
