Former UN Official Wins Defamation Suit Against Activist Over Tweets

Background

In a landmark judgment, a former Indian diplomat and senior UN official, Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri , has successfully sued a social media activist, Saket Gokhale , for defamation over a series of tweets he posted about her financial affairs. The case highlights the importance of verifying facts and exercising caution when making public statements, especially about public figures.

Arguments

Puri , who had a distinguished career in the Indian Foreign Service and the United Nations, claimed that Gokhale 's tweets contained "malicious falsehood" that tarnished her reputation. Gokhale , on the other hand, argued that he had relied on publicly available information, including Puri 's husband's election affidavits, to raise questions about the funding for Puri 's apartment in Geneva, Switzerland.

Court's Analysis and Reasoning

The court found that Gokhale had failed to exercise reasonable due diligence before publishing the tweets, which contained false and defamatory allegations. The court noted that Puri had fully disclosed the source of funds used to purchase the apartment, including a loan from a Swiss bank and a contribution from her daughter. The court also emphasized that Gokhale , as a person with a large social media following, had a greater responsibility to verify facts before making such serious allegations.

Decision

The court ordered Gokhale to publish an unconditional apology on his Twitter handle and in a prominent newspaper. The court also awarded Puri damages of ₹50 lakhs, to be paid by Gokhale , and restrained him from making any further tweets or posts related to the allegations made in the original tweets.

The judgment serves as a strong reminder to social media users, especially those with a large following, to exercise caution and verify facts before making public statements that could harm the reputation of others, even if they hold public office. It also underscores the importance of protecting the privacy and dignity of individuals, even if they are public figures.