Delhi High Court Orders TMC MP Saket Gokhale To Pay Rs 50 Lakh Damages For Defamatory Tweets Against Lakshmi Puri

The Delhi High Court imposed a cost of ₹50 lakh on activist Saket Gokhale in a defamation case filed by Lakshmi Puri. Puri, a former UN official, claimed Gokhale defamed her on social media. The court noted Gokhale's failure to respond to the allegations and emphasized the seriousness of the allegations, impacting Puri's reputation. Justice C. Hari Shankar cited Gokhale's attempt to malign Puri's character and influence public opinion without factual basis, leading to significant harm. The court highlighted the need for responsible use of social media and awarded the substantial cost to Puri as compensation for damages caused to her reputation.