TMC MP Saket Gokhale on Wednesday (April 16, 2025) expressed his willingness before the Delhi High Court to settle issues with former diplomat Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri, to whom he has been asked to apologise and pay \u20b950 lakh as damages in a defamation lawsuit.<\/p>\n

However, Ms. Puri, a former U.N. Assistant Secretary General, refused the settlement offer, with her counsel contending that Mr. Gokhale had abused her without any basis.<\/p>\n

The court, after hearing the submissions of the lawyers of both parties, reserved the order on Mr. Gokhale\u2019s plea seeking recall of the July 1, 2024 decision, along with his application to condone the delay of over 180 days in seeking relief.<\/p>\n

In the July 1, 2024 verdict, aside from directing the publication of an apology and the payment of \u20b950 lakh as damages, the court restrained Mr. Gokhale from publishing any more content on social media or electronic platforms concerning his imputations against Ms. Puri.<\/p>\n

Mr. Gokhale\u2019s counsel prayed that the order of \u20b950 lakh as costs be recalled as his client faced a shortage of funds.<\/p>\n

Mr. Gokhale had claimed earlier that he had been represented by an advocate who later stopped appearing, and that he had not received any electronic communication on the proceedings.<\/p>\n

However, the counsel for Ms. Puri contended that Mr. Gokhale had been very much aware of the court\u2019s July order, and he was continuously watching the proceedings in the virtual mode.<\/p>\n

Ms. Puri had approached the Delhi High Court in 2021, alleging that Mr. Gokhale tarnished her goodwill and reputation by making reckless and false allegations with regard to her financial affairs in the context of an apartment that she owned in Geneva.<\/p>\n