Delhi High Court seeks reply from Saket Gokhale of TMC on contempt petition of former diplomat Lakshmi Puri. Delhi News

The Delhi High Court on Monday sought a reply from TMC Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale in a contempt petition filed by former diplomat Lakshmi Murdeswar Puri against Gokhale for failing to comply with the court’s directions in the 2021 defamation case.

In July this year, the Delhi High Court directed Saket Gokhale to apologize to Puri and pay him a compensation of Rs 50 lakh. The court also directed Gokhale to apologize on his X handle, to be kept “for six months from the date of posting” and published in a major English newspaper in four weeks. The High Court has asked to pay the compensation within eight weeks.

In July 2021, the High Court passed an interim order, restraining the Trinamool Congress leader from posting any defamatory, defamatory or factually incorrect posts against Puri or her husband, former diplomat and Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

In her suit filed in the Delhi High Court, Puri claimed that Gokhale had “tarnished her good name and reputation by making negligent and false allegations” regarding her financial affairs “with reference to an apartment in Geneva, Switzerland”.

Arguing in the bench of Judge Manoj Jain on Monday, Puri’s lawyer said that the order of July has not been complied with till date, he has apologized and compensation has not been paid. The lawyer also pointed out that even though Gokh was “fully aware” of the directions issued earlier by the court, the order was not followed. The lawyer said that there was also a petition for death penalty demanding compensation.

On Monday, Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, while hearing the death plea, sought Gokhale’s reply. Justice Arora posted the matter for further consideration on February 5.

Justice Jain also verbally commented, “…if that is not challenged then some apology should be made…”

Justice Jain issued a notice to Gokhale on the contempt petition and sought his reply and recorded in the order that no one was present on behalf of Gokhale despite an advance contempt petition against Puri.

Justice Jain fixed February 3 for further discussion on the matter.

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