Overview

• The Delhi High Court has refused to recall its July 2024 defamation judgment against TMC MP Saket Gokhale, requiring him to pay ₹50 lakh in damages to former UN diplomat Lakshmi Puri.
• Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav dismissed Gokhale's plea to condone a delay of over 180 days in seeking relief, citing a lack of valid explanation.
• The 2024 verdict also mandates Gokhale to publish a formal apology and prohibits further defamatory statements against Puri on any platform.
• The case stems from Gokhale's 2021 social media posts alleging Puri's Geneva property was disproportionate to her income, claims she argued were baseless.
• The next compliance hearing in the case is scheduled for May 28, 2025, as enforcement actions continue to ensure adherence to the court's orders.