Thread by @barandbench

Delhi High Court to hear plea filed by former Assistant Secretary-General at United Nations, Lakshmi Puri against allegedly defamatory tweets by Saket Gokhale @SaketGokhale @lakshmiunwomen

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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

It is a family affair, he is nobody. The way people have reacted to his tweets, defamation is complete: Singh

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

Background to legal notice sent to Gokhale for his tweets:

Former UN officer Lakshmi Puri sends legal notice to activist Saket Gokhale for tweets alleging accumulation of disproportionate assets bit.ly/3hpWxtw

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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

Assets have been declared by Puri and her husband @HardeepSPuri in their respective capacities: Singh taking Court through money trail of purchase of house in Switzerland

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

Absolute false statements are made. I remember a TV anchor saying 'Nation wants to know'. Now he is saying he wants to know: Singh

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

Singh taking Court through @SaketGokhale tweets. "In 2006, Amb. Lakshmi Puri was posted on deputation in Geneva at UNCTAD" This is false, Singh says

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

"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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

"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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

"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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

Singh: He says "intimidation doesn't work on me" after receiving legal notice. He is now seeking to target brother of @HardeepSPuri

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

He knew about my daughter's payment of 6 lakh Swiss francs; he claims to have all documents: Singh

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

He is seeking crowdfunding. This is a new source of business by causing harassment to those who have served throughout their lives: Singh

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

We have placed all documents before the Court. The defamatory tweets must be removed.

Who has to remove it? Court

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

He has to remove it. If he doesn't, under Rule 3 of the new IT Rules, 2021, Twitter has to: Singh

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

After IT Rules, 2021 have come into force, we need bring Court in to remove this content: Singh

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

Singh reading out comments on @SaketGokhale thread. I have been called 'chor', 'looteri', 'thief' and 'black money hoarder'.

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

Such blatantly false and nonsensical tweets from persons with no accountability should not be allowed to remain: Singh concludes

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

Advocate Sarim Naved for Gokhale: I am a citizen of the country have the right to go into the assets of public functionaries

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

Naved reads from Lok Prahari judgment:

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

I hope you have understood the query. I never said that voters do not have a right to know assets of elected officials: Court

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

I tagged Finance Minister on Twitter: Naved

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

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.

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

If family members contribute something to the public official, he says this also has to be declared: Singh

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

The declaration of assets should not invade the privacy of family members. And this conscious journalist names me and makes these statements: Singh

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

If there is a defect in the declaration of assets, it will be adjudicated by the competent authority later on: Singh

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

Declaration affidavit is of 2018. He has made these statements in 2021. Is this not mala fide on the face of it? Singh

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

Is your client willing to take down the tweets? Court

He is not: Naved

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

Court dictating order.

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

[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

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

[Order] 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.

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

[Order] Mr Naved has been unable to provide any judgment on the same, although he has referred to Lok Prahari judgment

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

[Order] Mr Naved was asked whether his client is willing to take down tweets. He replied in the negative. Order reserved for Monday

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

Make it Tuesday, not Monday: Court. Hearing ends.

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

How can you vilify people like this? Delhi High Court reserves order in Rs 5 crore defamation suit by Lakshmi Puri against Saket Gokhale

#DelhiHighCourt #saketgokhale

@SaketGokhale @HardeepSPuri

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