Delhi High Court Grants Last Chance to TMC Leader Saket Gokhale in Contempt Case Filed by Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri

New Delhi, Feb 28: The Delhi High Court on Friday provided a final opportunity to Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Saket Gokhale to respond to a contempt plea filed by former diplomat and United Nations official Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri.

Justice Dharmesh Sharma granted Gokhale an additional two weeks to file his response and scheduled the next hearing for April 18. The court also indicated that if Gokhale fails to comply, he may be required to appear in person.

Allegations of Defamation and Contempt​

The contempt proceedings stem from a defamation lawsuit filed by Puri in 2021, in which she accused Gokhale of making false and defamatory statements regarding her financial affairs, particularly concerning an apartment she owns in Geneva. The court had previously restrained Gokhale from making any further social media or electronic statements on the matter in an order dated July 1, 2024.

However, Puri, in her contempt petition, alleged that Gokhale had "wilfully and deliberately" violated the court's directive. She claimed he continued making defamatory assertions not only against her but also against the court through posts on his social media account. Puri has sought punitive action against Gokhale, arguing that he has shown disregard for judicial authority.

Court’s Previous Orders and Gokhale’s Response​

The high court had earlier ruled that Gokhale must pay Rs 50 lakh in damages to Puri within eight weeks and issue a public apology, which should remain on his social media account for six months. Puri had initially demanded Rs 5 crore in damages, to be deposited into the PM CARES fund, along with the removal of Gokhale’s defamatory tweets.

In response, Gokhale’s counsel informed the court that he had filed an application seeking the recall of the July 1, 2024, order against him. This application is scheduled to be heard on March 6.

Targeting of BJP Leader Hardeep Singh Puri​

The court had previously observed that the allegations made by Gokhale were not only directed at Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri but were also an indirect attempt to target BJP leader Hardeep Singh Puri. The court termed Gokhale’s statements as "extremely irresponsible" and noted that he had published the derogatory content without proper verification.

With the next hearing set for April 18, the legal battle between Puri and Gokhale is set to continue, with potential consequences for the TMC leader if he fails to comply with the court’s orders.