The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale in response to a criminal defamation case filed by former diplomat Lakshmi Puri. The court has directed Gokhale to file an affidavit detailing his property and sought his response to the defamation petition.
The defamation case stems from allegations made by Saket Gokhale, who accused Lakshmi Puri of purchasing property in Switzerland using undisclosed wealth. Gokhale’s statements, made in June 2021, claimed that Puri had bought a house in Geneva worth 1.6 million Swiss francs in 2006, questioning the source of her income at the time.
Court Orders And Previous Rulings
In a prior ruling, the court found that Gokhale’s statements had caused irreparable harm to Lakshmi Puri. The court ordered Gokhale to issue an apology in a major newspaper and on his social media handle, as well as pay Rs 50 lakh in damages. However, this order has not been complied with, prompting Puri to file a petition seeking enforcement of the court’s decision.
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Lakshmi Puri’s petition also highlighted Gokhale’s claims about Swiss bank accounts and foreign black money, with Gokhale tagging the Union Finance Minister and requesting an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate into Puri and her husband, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Puri argues that these accusations are false, defamatory, and have caused significant damage to her reputation.
Court’s Response And Future Actions
The court has previously instructed Gokhale to remove the posts from his social media accounts that were part of the defamation case. With Gokhale’s failure to comply, the court has now moved forward by issuing a notice requiring his affidavit and response.
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