The Lokpal on Monday urged the Delhi High Court to extend the time granted to it to consider, in accordance with law, whether sanction should be accorded to the Central Bureau of Investigation to file a chargesheet against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in the alleged cash-for-query scam.
A bench comprising Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Renu Bhatnagar directed that the Lokpal’s application, which seeks an additional two months to comply with the earlier direction, be listed on January 23 before the bench that had passed the original order. During the hearing, counsel for the Lokpal submitted that the application was confined to seeking an extension of the time frame for considering the issue of sanction. Observing that the request amounted to a modification of the earlier order, the court directed that it be placed before the appropriate bench.
The matter traces back to a December 19, 2025 order of the High Court, which had set aside a November order of the Lokpal granting sanction to the CBI to file a chargesheet against Moitra. The court had directed the Lokpal to reconsider the issue of sanction under Section 20 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act strictly in accordance with the statutory provisions, within a period of one month.
That order was passed by a bench of Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar, which held that there was a “clear departure” from the procedure expressly mandated under the Act. The bench said the Lokpal had erred in its understanding and interpretation of the provisions governing sanction.
The alleged cash-for-query scam pertains to accusations that Moitra had raised questions in Parliament in exchange for cash and gifts from businessman Darshan Hiranandani. The December verdict came on Moitra’s plea challenging the Lokpal’s November 12, 2025 order granting sanction to the CBI to proceed against her.
The CBI had submitted its report to the Lokpal in July 2025 in connection with the case. The agency had registered an FIR on March 21, 2024 against Moitra and Hiranandani under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, following a reference from the Lokpal. It has been alleged that Moitra indulged in corrupt practices, including taking bribes and other undue advantages, and that she compromised her parliamentary privileges by sharing her Lok Sabha login credentials, allegedly causing national security concerns.
