Delhi HC orders attachment of Saket Gokhale’s salary in defamation case

The order had come on former dilpomat Lakshmi Puri’s plea alleging Mr. Gokhale tarnished her goodwill and reputation by making reckless and false allegations about her financial affairs in the context of an apartment that she owned in Geneva.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday (April 24, 2025) ordered the attachment of the salary of TMC MP Saket Gokhale in a defamation case filed by former diplomat Lakshmi Puri.

In July last year, the court had directed Mr Gokhale to pay ₹50 lakh to Ms. Puri for his defamatory posts on X, formerly Twitter. The order had come on Ms. Puri’s plea alleging Mr. Gokhale tarnished her goodwill and reputation by making reckless and false allegations about her financial affairs in the context of an apartment that she owned in Geneva.

Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora said Mr. Gokhale was previously directed to apologise to the former assistant secretary general of the United Nations and pay her ₹50 lakh in damages. However, neither did he deposit the fine amount nor offer a reasonable explanation, the court said.

“Accordingly, issue warrant of attachment as section 60(i) with respect to salary of the respondent which is stated to be Rs 1.90 lakh. The salary shall remain attached until ₹50 lakh is deposited with the court,” the court said.

The section exempts a portion of a public servant’s salary from attachment in execution of a decree. Specifically, it exempts the first ₹1000 of their monthly salary, and two-thirds of any remainder.

The court passed the order while dealing with Ms Puri’s plea seeking execution of the decree in her favour.

Though Mr. Gokhale’s plea in relation to a “recall” of the July 2024 judgment against him was pending before another bench, the court said there was no stay on the present proceedings.

Published - April 25, 2025 10:37 am IST