Delhi High Court orders MP Saket Gokhale’s salary to be attached in defamation case

The Delhi High Court on Thursday ordered Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale’s salary to be attached for failing to comply with a July order in a defamation case filed by former diplomat Lakshmi Puri, Live Law reported.

Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora directed that the Rajya Sabha MP’s salary of Rs 1.9 lakh per month be remain attached each month until he deposits Rs 50 lakh as damages with the court, reported Bar and Bench.

Gokhale has not given any reasonable explanation for not depositing the amount he was directed to as damages, said the court.

In July 2024, the High Court ruled that Gokhale made “incorrect, false and untrue” allegations about Puri, including claims that she had purchased property in Switzerland with disproportionate assets.

Puri had sued Gokhale, alleging that his social media posts were “defamatory, malicious and based on false information”.

In its verdict, the court had ordered Gokhale to apologise in a leading English daily and on his X handle. The social media post was to remain with the latter post to be retained for six months. He was also directed to pay Rs 50 lakh in damages.

Gokhale has since sought to recall the July 2024 order, arguing that it was issued ex parte, or in his absence, after his counsel stopped appearing. His counsel told...

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