New Delhi, March 13 The Supreme Court on Friday stayed a part of the December 2025 order of the Delhi High Court, which permitted the Lokpal to consider granting sanction to the CBI to file a chargesheet against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in the alleged cash-for-query scam.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notices to Moitra, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and BJP MP and complainant Nishikant Dubey on the Lokpal's plea against the high court order.
On December 19, 2025, the high court had overturned a Lokpal order granting sanction to the CBI to file a chargesheet against Moitra in the alleged cash-for-query scam.
"The learned Lokpal is requested to consider granting sanction under Section 20 of the Lokpal Act, strictly in accordance with the provisions thereof, within a period of one month from today," the high court had said in paragraph 89 of that judgment.
The CJI-led bench stayed paragraph 89 of the high court judgment while issuing notices on a batch of pleas related to power and procedures enumerated under Section 20 of the Lokpal Act.
The cash-for-query case pertains to the allegation that Moitra asked questions in the Lok Sabha in exchange for cash and gifts from a businessman.
The high court verdict came on a plea by Moitra challenging the November 12, 2025, order of the Lokpal granting sanction to the CBI to file the chargesheet against her.
The Lokpal then moved the apex court after the high court overturned its order.