Lakshmi Puri Defamation Case: Delhi High Court Objects To Saket Gokhale's Apology Affidavit, Asks Him To File Afresh

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to take on record the apology affidavit filed by All India Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale for defaming former Indian Assistant Secretary-General to the United Nations, Lakshmi Puri.

A division bench comprising Justice Navin Chawla and Justice Renu Bhatnagar noted that some of the contents of the affidavit could not be taken on record.

“This is not done… you first withdraw this affidavit, then we will hear you,” the judges told Gokhale's counsel Senior Advocate Amit Sibal.

Puri had objected to Gokhale's tweets raising questions about her and her husband, Union Minister Hardeep Puri's assets, over a property purchased by her in Switzerland. She contended that the tweets were false and defamatory.

In July 2021, a single judge had, through an interim order, directed Gokhale to take down the tweets. He was also restrained from posting any further defamatory material against Puri.

The interim order was confirmed last year, with Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani decreeing the defamation suit in her favour. The single judge had asked Gokhale to publish the prescribed apology in Times of India and on his Twitter handle. He was also directed to pay Rs. 50 lakh damages to Puri.

Today, the division bench noted that there was “difference in the two apologies”— the one directed to be published by the single judge and the one filed by Gokhale.

Sibal told the Court that the nature of TMC MP's statements against Puri were not accusatory and were based on election affidavits. However, the Court asked him to withdraw the affidavit and file a fresh response, while listing the matter for hearing on July 22.

Senior Advocate Maninder Singh appeared for Puri.

In his appeal, Gokhale has also challenged the ruling rejecting his plea to recall the single judge decision.

Meanwhile, Puri has sought execution of the decree in her favour. A single judge has issued show cause notice to Gokhale in the matter, asking him why he should not be committed to civil detention for his failure to publish the apology. That matter is listed for hearing in September.

Title: Saket Gokhale v. Lakshmi Puri