Cash-for-query case: Supreme Court notice to Mahua Moitra on Lokpal of India plea; stays Delhi High Court order

The Supreme Court of India on Friday issued notice to Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on a petition filed by the Lokpal of India challenging the Delhi High Court's judgment in the cash-for-query case, PTI reported.

The apex court also issued notices to BJP MP and complainant Nishikant Dubey and stayed the Delhi High Court order which granted relief to Moitra and set aside an order passed by the Lokpal, granting sanction to the CBI to file chargesheet against her in relation to the cash for query row.

Also Read: Delhi HC sets aside Lokpal order against Mahua Moitra


The case arises from a petition filed by the Lokpal against the Delhi High Court's ruling which held that separate sanctions for the filing of a charge sheet and initiating prosecution are not contemplated by the Lokpal and Lok Ayuktas Act, 2013.

The Supreme Court's order came while hearing the Lokpal's challenge to the High Court judgment.

The Lokpal has argued that the High Court's interpretation could affect the procedure adopted by it in granting sanction to investigating agencies such as the CBI in corruption-related matters involving public servants.

The matter is part of the ongoing litigation arising out of allegations in the cash-for-query controversy involving Moitra.

Also Read: Lokpal gets more time to decide on sanction to file chargesheet against Mahua Moitra

What is the cash-for-query case?

Nishikant Dubey, a sitting Lok Sabha member from the Godda constituency in Jharkhand, had accused Mahua Moitra - an MP from the opposition TMC - of asking questions in parliament in exchange for bribes.

Dubey has alleged that Moitra asked several questions in Parliament targeting the Adani Group — a business conglomerate owned by one of Asia’s richest men, Gautam Adani — in exchange for gifts and cash from a businessman.

Moitra has denied the allegations and said she is ready to face any kind of inquiry.

Dubey wrote to the Speaker of the lower house of Parliament citing information he said he had received from advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai.

Dubey claimed that Dehadrai had shared "irrefutable evidence of bribes exchanged" between Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani, allegedly to raise questions targeting the Adani Group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.