The Delhi High Court has granted time to former diplomat Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri to consider the apology tendered by All India Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale in a defamation suit filed by her over his public remarks regarding her ownership of an apartment in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Division Bench of Justice Anil Kshetarpal and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar issued the direction on Tuesday after Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, representing Puri, apprised the Court that he had not received a copy of the fresh apology affidavit.
Appearing for Gokhale, Senior Advocate Amit Sibal informed the Division Bench that the revised affidavit had been submitted.
The High Court noted in its order that in compliance with its order of July 8, 2025, the appellant had a fresh affidavit, and listed the matter for further hearing on July 24.
The Division Bench passed the order on a petition filed by Gokhale, challenging the verdict that directed him to pay Rs 50 lakh in damages to Puri and issue a public apology, both in a national daily and on his social media account.
Puri is the wife of Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri. In 2021, she sued Gokhale over social media posts alleging that she had purchased certain property in Switzerland disproportionate to her income.
In July 2021, the Court passed an interim order directing Gokhale to remove the tweets and refrain from posting any defamatory content against the Puris.
In the final judgment delivered in July 2024, the High Court directed Gokhale to pay Rs 50 lakh damages to Lakshmi Puri and also publish an apology in The Times of India newspaper and on his X handle.
Gokhale challenged this verdict under Order IX Rule 13 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
Puri also moved the High Court for the execution of the July 2024 decree. The High Court attached a part of Gokhale’s salary in April 2025.
Puri also filed a contempt of court case against Gokhale for non-compliance of the directions issued in the judgment passed in July 2024.
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