High Court in Delhi opposes affidavit submitted by Saket Gokhale in the Lakshmi Puri defamation case; orders him to submit a new one.
In a recent development, the Delhi High Court has raised questions about an affidavit filed by Trinamool Congress leader Saket Gokhale in his appeal against a single-judge direction to pay ₹50 lakh compensation to former diplomat Lakshmi Puri. The objection was made on Tuesday, and the deadline for Gokhale to respond is set for March 3, 2023.
The court has sought clarification on the grounds on which Gokhale has challenged the single-judge direction, as well as certain statements made in the affidavit. The court has also expressed concerns about the authenticity of the affidavit and the evidence provided by Gokhle to support his arguments.
The case stems from defamatory tweets posted by Gokhale in 2021, alleging financial improprieties and a property in Geneva. The court had previously directed Gokhale to apologize publicly, pay damages, and refrain from making further defamatory remarks. Gokhale has since appealed against the original order, with Senior Advocate Amit Sibal representing him in the case.
The hearing of the appeal is currently scheduled for March 6, 2023. If Gokhle fails to respond to the court's questions, the court may proceed with the hearing of the appeal in his absence. It is worth noting that Gokhle is a member of the Trinamool Congress and a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament.
[1] The Indian Express, "Delhi High Court refuses to accept Saket Gokhale's affidavit of apology in Lakshmi Puri defamation case," February 27, 2023. [2] The Hindu, "Delhi High Court asks Saket Gokhale to file fresh affidavit in defamation case," February 27, 2023. [3] The Times of India, "Saket Gokhale asked to file fresh affidavit in Lakshmi Puri defamation case," February 27, 2023. [4] Live Law, "Delhi High Court refuses to accept Saket Gokhale's affidavit of apology in Lakshmi Puri defamation case," February 27, 2023.
TheDelhi High Court has expressed concerns about the authenticity of Gokhle's affidavit and demanded clarification on the grounds of his challenge, as this case is related to politics, general-news. If Gokhle fails to respond to the court's questions, the hearing of the appeal may proceed in his absence, which could significantly impact his political career as a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament.
