The Delhi High Court granted the Lokpal a final two-month extension to decide on sanction for the CBI to file a chargesheet against TMC MP Mahua Moitra in the alleged cash-for-query case. Both parties did not oppose the extension.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has extended by two months the timeframe for the Lokpal to review and make a decision regarding the sanction for the CBI to file a chargesheet against TMC MP Mahua Moitra in the alleged cash-for-query scam.
A bench comprising Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar stated that no further requests for extensions would be accepted. Lawyers representing both the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) indicated they did not oppose the Lokpal’s request for this two-month extension.
The bench ordered,
“The period of disposal is extended by two months while observing that no further request for extension of time will be entertained,”
Factual Background Of the case:
The case arises from allegations made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey that Moitra accepted gifts from businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for raising questions in the Lok Sabha to target the Adani Group. This led to an investigation by the CBI at the behest of the Lokpal. Moitra serves as a two-term TMC MP from Krishnanagar in West Bengal.
In December 2023, the Lok Sabha’s Ethics Committee found her conduct unethical and recommended her expulsion, a decision subsequently approved by Parliament. In March 2024, the Lokpal directed the CBI to register a case against her under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Moitra has been engaged in multiple legal battles since, including defamation suits involving Dubey and advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai. The Delhi High Court, in prior orders, allowed her to defend herself publicly but cautioned her against making derogatory statements.
It was alleged that Moitra engaged in corrupt practices, including accepting bribes and other improper advantages from Hiranandani for “compromising her parliamentary privileges and causing national security threats by sharing her Lok Sabha login credentials.”
ALSO READ: Cash-for-Query Scam | ‘CBI Report Against Mahua Moitra to Remain Confidential’: Delhi HC
Previous Observations Of the court
July 2025: The CBI submitted its report to the Lokpal related to the case involving Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani. The agency registered an FIR on March 21, 2024, based on a reference from the Lokpal, citing violations of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
November 12, 2025 : A full bench of the Lokpal passed an order under Section 20(7)(a) read with Section 23(1) of the Lokpal Act. Through this order, the Lokpal gave the CBI permission to file a chargesheet against Moitra within four weeks and also required the agency to send a copy of the chargesheet to the Lokpal. This decision cleared the way for the CBI to move ahead with prosecution.
December 19, 2025: The High Court set aside a November order from the Lokpal that had granted the CBI permission to file the chargesheet against Moitra. The court instructed the Lokpal to reassess the issue of sanction under Section 20 of the Lokpal Act strictly in accordance with the relevant provisions within one month.
In its judgment, the court observed that there was a “clear departure” from the procedure explicitly prescribed under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, and held that the Lokpal had committed an error in its understanding and interpretation of the Act’s provisions.
January 19, 2026 : The anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal has approached the Delhi High Court to request an additional two months to make a new decision regarding sanctioning the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a charge sheet against Trinamool Congress (TMC) parliamentarian Mahua Moitra.
Now the Delhi High Court has extended it for 2 months with no further extension remark.
Case Title : MAHUA MOITRA v. LOKPAL OF INDIA & ORS