Delhi HC refuses to accept Saket Gokhale’s apology

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday (July 8, 2025) refused to accept the written apology of TMC MP Saket Gokhale in a case over his alleged defamatory posts on social media against former diplomat Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri.

The court said there was a difference in the two apologies’— the one directed to be published by the single Judge Bench of the court and the one filed by Mr. Gokhale.

The court was dealing with Mr. Gokhale’s appeal against a single Judge’s July 1, 2024 verdict restraining the TMC leader from publishing further on social media or any online platform against Ms. Puri. The single Judge also directed him to apologise to her and pay ₹50 lakh in damages.

The court said the contents of his affidavit couldn’t be taken on record while asking Mr. Gokhale’s counsel to withdraw the apology and file a fresh one. It would hear the case again on July 22.

Senior advocate Amit Sibal, representing Mr. Gokhale, submitted his client filed an affidavit tendering an unconditional apology beside publishing a public apology on his X handle in compliance with the previous directions.

Senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for Ms. Puri, opposed the submission and raised questions over Mr. Gokhale’s conduct before the single judge in the contempt proceedings.

Mr. Gokhale had previously assured of publishing the apology after the court refused to allow him to publish a conditional one.

Ms. Puri had filed the defamation suit before the court in response to tweets made by Mr. Gokhale in June 2021 making reckless and false allegations about her financial affairs in the context of an apartment that she owned in Geneva.

Mr. Gokhale had in the series of post questioned how Ms. Puri could have bought a house for 1.6 million Swiss Franc in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2006 with her then income. Ms. Puri’s said these posts tarnished her goodwill and reputation.

In the July 1, 2024, aside from directing publication of an apology and payment of ₹50 lakh as damages, the court restrained Mr. Gokhale from publishing any more content on any social media or electronic platform concerning his imputation against Ms. Puri. The court noted these allegations were made without verification and had tarnished her reputation.