Fri Dec 19 05:57:39 UTC 2025: News Article:
Delhi High Court Quashes Lokpal Order in Mahua Moitra ‘Cash-for-Query’ Case
New Delhi – December 19, 2025: The Delhi High Court has today quashed a Lokpal order that had granted sanction to the CBI to file a charge-sheet against Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra in the alleged “cash-for-query” row.
A bench comprising Justice Anil Kshetarpal and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar overturned the Lokpal’s sanction, stating, “The (Lokpal) order is set aside. We have requested the Lokpal to accord consideration for grant of sanction under Section 20 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act in accordance with the relevant provisions within one month.”
The case revolves around accusations that Ms. Moitra accepted cash and gifts from a businessman in exchange for posing specific questions in Parliament.
Ms. Moitra had challenged the Lokpal’s November 12 order, arguing that it was flawed, violated the Lokpal Act, and disregarded principles of natural justice. Her plea claimed that the Lokpal invited arguments and submissions but then ignored them, issuing the sanction order under the Lokpal Act, on the ground that they were premature and would be considered at a subsequent stage. She alleged that the sanction order reduced the role of the Lokpal to merely “rubber-stamping of the investigation report”.
The CBI had argued that Ms. Moitra was only entitled to give comments and not even an oral hearing.
The Lokpal is now required to reconsider the sanction request within one month, following the High Court’s directive.
First Piper 