The Central Bureau of Investigation told the Delhi High Court on Friday that Mahua Moitra’s plea challenging the Lokpal’s sanction for her prosecution in the cash-for-query case was “frivolous” and devoid of merit. The agency argued that the Trinamool Congress MP had been given more opportunity to present her case than the law mandates.
Moitra has petitioned the court to quash the Lokpal’s November 12 order, claiming it disregarded her submissions and violated fundamental principles of natural justice. She alleged that the watchdog wrongly allowed the CBI to proceed with a chargesheet accusing her of accepting cash and gifts from businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for raising parliamentary questions.
Appearing for the CBI, Additional Solicitor General S. V. Raju said the Lokpal had gone “well beyond” statutory requirements. Under the Lokpal Act, he argued, Moitra was entitled only to submit written comments—not to an oral hearing. Nevertheless, she was permitted to file comments, affidavits, and present oral submissions, all of which were considered before approval was granted.
Raju further contended that Moitra’s plea was an attempt to introduce materials at a stage where the Lokpal framework does not allow such evidentiary exchange. Unlike the Criminal Procedure Code, the Lokpal system, he said, does not provide for summoning or extensive document review. At this phase, the law requires only two steps: initiation of prosecution and sanction—neither of which confer a right to be heard.
Moitra’s petition, however, claims the Lokpal invited her arguments only to later dismiss them as premature, stating they would be considered at a future stage even as it cleared the CBI’s request.
The CBI submitted its report to the Lokpal in July, following an FIR filed in March 2024 against Moitra and Hiranandani under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The report alleged that Moitra accepted bribes in return for parliamentary questions and endangered national security by sharing her Lok Sabha login credentials.
