The Supreme Court on Friday stayed a portion of a December 2025 judgment of the Delhi High Court that had permitted the Lokpal to reconsider granting sanction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a chargesheet against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in the alleged cash-for-query scandal.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi, issued notices to Moitra, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who is the complainant in the matter. The notices were issued on a plea filed by the Lokpal challenging the Delhi High Court’s ruling.
The apex court specifically stayed paragraph 89 of the Delhi High Court’s judgment dated December 19, 2025. In that paragraph, the high court had asked the Lokpal to reconsider whether sanction should be granted to the CBI under Section 20 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act for filing a chargesheet against Moitra.
The high court had directed the anti-corruption watchdog to undertake this reconsideration within a month. It had observed:
“The learned Lokpal is requested to accord its consideration for grant of sanction under Section 20 of the Lokpal Act, strictly in accordance with provisions thereof as construed hereinabove, within a period of one month from today.”
However, the Supreme Court has now stayed that direction while examining a batch of petitions concerning the powers and procedures under Section 20 of the Lokpal Act.
The controversy arises from allegations that Mahua Moitra asked questions in the Lok Sabha in exchange for cash and gifts from a businessman. The claims were raised by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, triggering inquiries into the alleged misconduct.
Earlier, on November 12, 2025, the Lokpal had granted sanction to the CBI to file a chargesheet against Moitra in connection with the allegations. Moitra subsequently challenged that sanction before the Delhi High Court.
In its December ruling, the high court set aside the Lokpal’s sanction order and directed the body to reconsider the issue in accordance with the legal interpretation it had provided.
Following the high court’s decision, the Lokpal approached the Supreme Court, seeking relief against the judgment. The top court has now issued notices to the concerned parties and stayed the specific direction requiring reconsideration of sanction while the matter is under its examination.
