Background of the Case
The Delhi HC on May 9th, 2025 directed Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saket Gokhale to publish a public apology within a week to the Indian Diplomat Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri.
The case came from Gokhale’s tweets in 2021, in which he accused Puri and her husband, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, of financial impropriety.
Decision was held on July 4th, 2024 but as of now the decision came into context when Lakshmi Puri filed a petition to the Delhi HC against Gokhale for failing to comply with the court’s order.
Gokhale published tweets stating that Lakshmi Puri bought a beautiful flat in Geneva with unexplained cash, implying the usage of black money thus questioning her property purchase in Switzerland and raising further questions about her and her husband’s assets. He demanded an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate, accusing her of financial irregularities without seeking clarification or checking the facts.
Court’s Observations
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani criticised Gokhale’s behaviour, describing the tweets as “false, unverified, and motivated by malice” direct ingredients of defamation. The court stated that Gokhale had failed to do due diligence of checking the facts before making public accusations, emphasising the harm such unsubstantiated assertions can cause to an individual’s dignity and reputation.The fact that a public statement was made without checking the facts as well as which further damaged the reputation of Lakshmi Puri and her husband, is a defamatory statement.
Rebuttal and Documentation
Lakshmi Puri provided proof that the home in question was purchased using a genuine bank loan and money given by her daughter. Despite obtaining this clarification, Gokhale did not retract or rectify his charges, exacerbating the defamatory consequences. The statement caused ‘irreplaceable harm’ to Lakshmi Puri.
Court’s Directives
The High Court issued numerous important orders:
• Gokhale must publicly apologise to Lakshmi Puri on X (previously Twitter) and keep it visible for six months.
• The print apology must be published in a daily national newspaper like that of The Times of India’s Delhi edition within four weeks.
• Gokhale has been ordered to pay Lakshmi Puri ₹50 lakh in compensation within eight weeks.
• Injunction: He is prohibited from uttering any more defamatory statements against Puri.
Significance of the Judgment
This decision establishes a precedent for accountability in the digital era, emphasising that free expression must be employed responsibly. Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian constitution gives the freedom of speech and expression but the at the same time it comes with some exceptions under article 19(2) one of which being defamation. The court emphasised that social media cannot be used as a tool for character assassination in the name of activism or political critique.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nitya Jain is a law student at Symbiosis Law School, Pune, and an emerging legal writer with a keen interest in constitutional and contract law. Backed by a strong academic foundation, she actively engages with contemporary legal issues through research, writing, and participation in moot court competitions. A certified legal researcher by Manupatra, Nitya aims to contribute valuable insights on pressing legal matters through her work.