Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra has received significant legal relief in the cash-for-query controversy after the Delhi High Court set aside a Lokpal order that had directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a preliminary inquiry against her, according to PTI.
A bench comprising Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Harish Vaidhyanathan Shankar ruled that the Lokpal had committed an error in issuing the order.
The High Court ruled that the Lokpal’s decision was not sustainable in law, noting procedural lapses and deficiencies in the manner in which the order was passed. The court observed that the anti-corruption watchdog had failed to adequately examine jurisdictional issues before ordering a probe, PTI reported.
In November, the Central Bureau of Investigation informed the Delhi High Court that Mahua Moitra’s petition challenging the Lokpal’s approval for prosecution in the cash-for-query matter was “frivolous,” triggering a pointed debate over the procedural rights available to the Trinamool Congress MP before such sanction was granted.
The case stems from allegations that Moitra accepted cash and gifts in exchange for raising questions in Parliament on behalf of a businessman — charges she has consistently denied. She has maintained that the accusations were politically motivated and aimed at silencing opposition voices.
With the High Court’s ruling, the Lokpal’s directive for a CBI inquiry stands nullified, providing temporary relief to the TMC leader. However, legal experts note that the judgment does not amount to a clean chit and leaves open the possibility of future legal action if due process is followed.
The verdict is being seen as a setback for the complainants in the case and a boost for Moitra, who has remained vocal against the BJP-led central government. The matter continues to carry political significance, especially in the context of ongoing debates around parliamentary ethics and accountability.
