Mahua Moitra cash-for-query case: Lokpal moves Delhi High Court seeking more time over CBI sanction

Mahua Moitra (File photo)

• Lokpal asks Delhi HC for more time to decide on CBI chargesheet sanction for Moitra
• HC to hear Lokpal's extension plea on January 23 before original order's bench
• Moitra accused of bribery, cash-for-query, and sharing Lok Sabha login details

Did our AI summary help?

The Lokpal on Monday approached the Delhi High Court seeking additional time to examine, in accordance with law, whether sanction should be granted to the CBI for filing a chargesheet against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in the alleged cash-for-query matter.

The plea for extension came up before a bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Renu Bhatnagar.

The bench directed that the Lokpal’s application, which requests two more months beyond the period earlier fixed by the court, be placed on January 23 before the bench that had passed the original order.

During the hearing, counsel for the Lokpal submitted that the application was limited to seeking an extension of the deadline for considering the sanction issue.

However, the court observed, “It amounts to modification (of the order). List before the appropriate bench,” and declined to entertain the request itself.

Earlier, on December 19, 2025, the high court had quashed a November order of the Lokpal that had granted sanction to the CBI to file a chargesheet against Moitra.

The court had directed the Lokpal to freshly consider the question of sanction under Section 20 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act and to do so “strictly in accordance with provisions” within one month.

That December ruling was delivered by a bench of Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar, which noted a “clear departure” from the procedure expressly laid down under the statute.

The bench held that the Lokpal had erred in both its understanding and interpretation of the relevant provisions while granting sanction earlier.

The controversy arises from allegations that Moitra had raised questions in Parliament in return for cash and gifts allegedly received from a businessman.

The case before the high court stemmed from Moitra’s petition challenging the Lokpal’s November 12, 2025 order that had permitted the CBI to proceed with a chargesheet.

The CBI had submitted its report to the Lokpal in July 2025 after investigating the alleged cash-for-query scam involving Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani.

The agency had registered an FIR on March 21, 2024, under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, following a reference made by the Lokpal.

According to the allegations, Moitra engaged in corrupt practices, including accepting bribes and other undue advantages, and allegedly shared her Lok Sabha login credentials, actions which were claimed to have compromised parliamentary privileges and posed national security concerns.