Delhi High Court hears plea by Lakshmi Puri against allegedly defamatory tweets by Saket Gokhale [LIVE UPDATES]

The Delhi High Court is hearing a petition filed by former Assistant Secretary-General at United Nations, Lakshmi Puri against allegedly defamatory tweets by Saket Gokhale. Earlier, Puri had sent a legal notice to Gokhale over these tweets. .Former UN officer Lakshmi Puri sends legal notice to activist Saket Gokhale for tweets alleging accumulation of disproportionate assets.The hearing is progressing before Justice C Hari Shankar. .Live updates from the hearing today feaure here..Hearing before Justice C Hari Shankar begins. Senior Advocate Maninder Singh appears for Puri..How can you be vilifying people like this? Knock off these things from the website: Court.If you have any problem with public functionaries, you must go to them. Make necessary clarifications before you got to the public domain: Court.Singh: I am not holding any public office. I will demonstrate how mala fide this gentleman is. Such uncontrolled people. I have worked for 28 years in the service. During my leave, I worked with United Nations.The defiance of law is when I send legal notice, he says you are not the court, so we had to approach the Court: Singh.I was finding a flat when I was on UN salary. I got a mortgage of Rs 10 lakh from UBS. This gentleman may only ask people who hold public office and not me: Singh .My elder daughter who is a banker in New York gave me 6 lakh Swiss francs and I had mortgage of 10 lakh Swiss francs. I have put these documents before Court; this man is no one to question me: Singh.United Nations salary is tax-free. I was on leave, not deputation as alleged by Gokhale. He knows everything. It is only an edifice created to blackmail me: Singh .It is a family affair, he is nobody. The way people have reacted to his tweets, defamation is complete: Singh .I could have put these documents in sealed cover to the Court, but I insisted otherwise. Let this be an example to people making allegations without accountability: Singh.Assets have been declared by Puri and her husband, Hardeep S Puri, in their respective capacities: Singh taking Court through money trail of purchase of house in Switzerland.It is a case of ex facie defamation. If I may use a Hindi phrase, it is a case of Ulta chor kotwal ko daante. When we sent the legal notice, he said he was being harassed: Singh.Absolute false statements are made. I remember a TV anchor saying 'Nation wants to know'. Now he is saying he wants to know: Singh.Singh taking Court through Saket Gokhale's tweets. "In 2006, Amb. Lakshmi Puri was posted on deputation in Geneva at UNCTAD." This is false, Singh says ."This house in Switzerland was first declared by Hardeep Puri in his 2017 asset declaration as a member of the Union Cabinet." This is false, I have declared it to my employer in 2005: Singh."For purchasing a house worth CHF 1.6 million, Puri would have to show: 1. Annual household income of CHF 3,00,000 (Rs. 2.4 crores) 2. Savings/equity of CHF 6,00,000 (Rs. 4.8 crores).NOT KNOWN!" .We had this, but is it none of his business: Singh."Last week, there was news about the rising numbers in Swiss bank accounts of Indians. Modi promised to "bring back foreign black money." .He is saying I have no source of income and that I have used black money: Singh.Singh: He says "intimidation doesn't work on me" after receiving legal notice. He is now seeking to target brother of Hardeep S Puri. .Whatever obligation I had to discharge is done. I do not hold public office to face these allegations. If he wants to put this in public domain. It is basic civility to ask me before he publishes this: Singh .He knew about my daughter's payment of 6 lakh Swiss francs; he claims to have all documents: Singh .He is seeking crowdfunding. This is a new source of business by causing harassment to those who have served throughout their lives: Singh .We have placed all documents before the Court. The defamatory tweets must be removed, Singh.Who has to remove it? Court .He has to remove it. If he doesn't, under Rule 3 of the new IT Rules, 2021, Twitter has to: Singh .After IT Rules, 2021 have come into force, we need bring Court in to remove this content: Singh.I have made out a prima facie case and the balance of convenience is in my favour. There is conclusive evidence of defamation and harassment having taken place: Singh .Singh reading out comments on Saket Gokhale's thread. .I have been called 'chor', 'looteri', 'thief' and 'black money hoarder'.: Singh.If people who have served with utmost integrity and who have done things after retirement face this from people with no accountability, only the Court can save us: Singh.Such blatantly false and nonsensical tweets from persons with no accountability should not be allowed to remain: Singh concludes.Advocate Sarim Naved for Gokhale: I am a citizen of the country have the right to go into the assets of public functionaries.Show me that before you put this on public domain, you cross-checked with the plaintiff: Court .I do not need to: Naved .So any Tom, Dick and Harry can write anything vilificatory against anyone on the internet? Court .Assets of candidate and spouse should be matter of public record as per Supreme Court judgment in Lok Prahari. They have not declared the 6 lakh Swiss franc loan taken from daughter: Naved.Movable assets are of 2 crore 74 lakh on an income of Rs 11 lakh. How does this relate to source of income? Naved .Page 186 mentions loan from the bank. There is declaration as to where money has come from. What is illegal about it? Court .As a voter, I have to be satisfied that income is accounted for: Naved .Go to the Election Commission to be satisfied. Before you throw mud at someone, you must do a due diligence exercise: Court.Before you go further, answer two questions, Court to Naved: 1. Show me how you approached authorities to verify your claims 2. If you claim that you do not need to, show me the law that says so.Naved reads from Lok Prahari judgment:.I hope you have understood the query. I never said that voters do not have a right to know assets of elected officials: Court.If you do not have a judgment in support, tell the Court. Don't go on tangents: Court .I am not aware of any law that makes it necessary to confer with plaintiff before putting out this information: Naved.Did you go to any authority before you put this on Twitter? Court .I believe there was some RTI filed, but I am not sure, I will have to take instructions: Naved.I tagged Finance Minister on Twitter: Naved.Maninder Singh seeks to make rejoinder submissions. As per the 2018 Lok Prahari judgment, it is for Election Commission to frame rules for declaration of assets etc..If family members contribute something to the public official, he says this also has to be declared: Singh.The declaration of assets should not invade the privacy of family members. And this conscious journalist names me and makes these statements: Singh.If there is a defect in the declaration of assets, it will be adjudicated by the competent authority later on: Singh.Declaration affidavit is of 2018. He has made these statements in 2021. Is this not mala fide on the face of it? Singh.The foundation started building up from June 13. It is pre-designed attempt to defame. He makes it seem like I used black money to buy the flat in Switzerland: Singh .Is your client willing to take down the tweets? Court .He is not: Naved .Court dictating order..ORDER:.Detailed arguments have been heard. A query was put to Mr Naved as to whether his client had approached any official authority or sought clarification from plaintiff before tweets. He answered in the negative..A further query was put as to whether the law permits a voter who had grievance against a retired public servant to publish allegations against such persons on social platforms without seeking clarification. Mr Naved said no..Mr Naved has been unable to provide any judgment on the same, although he has referred to Lok Prahari judgment .Mr Naved was asked whether his client is willing to take down tweets. He replied in the negative. Order reserved for Monday .Make it Tuesday, not Monday: Court. .Hearing ends.

Delhi High Court hears plea by Lakshmi Puri against allegedly defamatory tweets by Saket Gokhale [LIVE UPDATES]

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