Overview

• In June 2021, Gokhale alleged without proof that former diplomat Lakshmi Puri bought a 1.6 million Swiss franc apartment in Geneva beyond her income, prompting her defamation suit.
• On July 1, 2024, the Delhi High Court found those tweets unverified and defamatory, ordered Gokhale to pay ₹50 lakh in damages and publish an unconditional public apology.
• After missing the initial deadline, the court attached his ₹1.9 lakh monthly MP salary starting April 2025 and issued a show-cause notice warning of civil detention.
• On June 10, 2025, Gokhale published an apology in a national newspaper and on X, admitting his 2021 posts were wrong and unverified and expressing sincere regret.
• The High Court has barred him from further defamatory statements and continues oversight until the full damages are paid and its decree is complied with.