Defamation case: TMC MP Saket Gokhale apologises to ex-diplomat Lakshmi Puri; calls allegations 'unverified'
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".
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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.
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