Attach part of TMC MP Saket Gokhale’s salary till he pays Rs 50 lakh as damages: Delhi HC in defamation case
Last year, TMC MP Saket Gokhale had been directed to pay damages to former diplomat Lakshmi Puri over his social media posts on her financial affairs and an apartment in Geneva.
2 min read
On July 1, 2024, the high court had directed Gokhale to apologise to Puri over his social media posts on Puri’s financial affairs and an apartment in Geneva. (File)The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed that a portion of Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale’s monthly salary be attached until he deposits Rs 50 lakh with the court in relation to a defamation suit where he was directed to pay the amount as damages to former diplomat Lakshmi Puri.
On July 1, 2024, the high court had directed Gokhale to apologise to Puri over his social media posts on Puri’s financial affairs and an apartment in Geneva and pay Rs 50 lakh as damages. Gokhale was directed that the apology be posted on his X handle, which should be retained for “six months from the date it is put out”, as well as publish it in a leading English daily in four weeks.
In a separate plea, Gokhale has sought a recall of the July 2024 order.
On Thursday, Gokhale’s counsel informed Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora that he is not inclined to publish an apology as it would then make his plea for recall of the July 2024 order infructuous.
Justice Arora, however, recorded that there is “no reasonable explanation” for Gokhale “not depositing the decretal amount”.
Accordingly, the court directed that a warrant be issued for attachment of salary, which Gokhale has declared as Rs 1.90 lakh per month, under the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure that deal with the attachment of a portion of the salary of government servants. The court went on to direct that the salary shall remain attached until Gokhale deposits Rs 50 lakh with the court.
In July 2021, the high court had passed an interim order, restraining Gokhale from posting any defamatory, scandalous or factually incorrect tweets against Puri or her husband, former diplomat and union minister for petroleum and natural gas Hardeep Singh Puri.
In her lawsuit, Puri had claimed that Gokhale, who posted certain tweets about her, had “tarnished her good name and reputation by making reckless and false allegations” in relation to her financial affairs in the “context of an apartment that she owns in Geneva, Switzerland”.
You May Like
Photos
