Delhi High Court Threatens TMC MP Saket Gokhale with Civil Custody

Court's Warning to TMC MP

 On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court issued a stern warning to Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saket Gokhale, threatening him with 'civil custody' for allegedly willfully disregarding judicial orders. These orders mandated him to apologize to former diplomat Laxmi Murdeshwar Puri in a defamation case.

The court expressed that Gokhale appeared to be mocking the judicial process. Justice Manmeet P.S. Arora stated, 'I am issuing you a notice. If you fail to publish the apology, we will place you in civil custody.'

Justice Arora further remarked, 'In my view, he should go to jail.' Civil custody involves detaining individuals separately from those awaiting trial.

The High Court had previously prohibited Gokhale from posting any further content against Puri on social media or electronic platforms until July 1, 2024, and instructed him to apologize and pay a compensation of ₹50 lakh.

Puri filed a defamation petition against Gokhale for not complying with the court's decision from 2024. On May 9, the coordinating bench of the High Court directed the TMC leader to publish an apology on his 'X' handle, which he used for the objectionable posts.

The bench also instructed him to publish the apology in a prominent daily within two weeks. Justice Arora was informed on Wednesday that the extended deadline of May 23 had lapsed, and Gokhale had yet to publish the apology.

Gokhale's lawyer acknowledged that the order from May 9 had not been followed. Consequently, the court noted, 'It seems to this court that Gokhale is mocking the court and its deliberations.'

It further stated, 'For willfully failing to comply with the decision and the extended period granted by the coordinating bench, the 'judgment debater' (Gokhale) is hereby notified to explain why he should not be sent to civil custody under the principles of Order 21 of the Civil Procedure Code.'