NEW DELHI: Delhi high court on Thursday ordered attachment of TMC Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale 's monthly salary in connection with a defamation case filed by former diplomat Lakshmi Puri .
Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora took a grim view of Gokhale's failure to heed the court's directive last year to apologise to Puri - a former assistant secretary-general of UN - and pay her Rs 50 lakh in damages. The judge noted that the MP had neither deposited the amount nor offered an explanation. "Accordingly, issue a warrant of attachment as per section 60(i) with respect to the salary of the respondent, which is stated to be Rs 1.9 lakh. The salary shall remain attached until Rs 50 lakh is deposited with the court," HC said.
The latest order was passed on Puri's petition seeking execution of the decree passed last year in her favour. Gokhale's counsel informed the court that he was not willing to apologise as he had already sought a "recall" of the judgment against him and the matter was pending before another bench.Puri had first moved the HC in 2021, alleging Gokhale tarnished her reputation by making false allegations about her financial affairs in the context of an apartment that she owned in Geneva.
Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora took a grim view of Gokhale's failure to heed the court's directive last year to apologise to Puri - a former assistant secretary-general of UN - and pay her Rs 50 lakh in damages. The judge noted that the MP had neither deposited the amount nor offered an explanation. "Accordingly, issue a warrant of attachment as per section 60(i) with respect to the salary of the respondent, which is stated to be Rs 1.9 lakh. The salary shall remain attached until Rs 50 lakh is deposited with the court," HC said.
The latest order was passed on Puri's petition seeking execution of the decree passed last year in her favour. Gokhale's counsel informed the court that he was not willing to apologise as he had already sought a "recall" of the judgment against him and the matter was pending before another bench.Puri had first moved the HC in 2021, alleging Gokhale tarnished her reputation by making false allegations about her financial affairs in the context of an apartment that she owned in Geneva.
