The Delhi High Court has directed the Lokpal and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure that confidentiality is maintained in connection with the ongoing Lokpal proceedings in the cash-for-query case filed against Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament (MP) Mahua Moitra [Mahua Moitra Vs Lokpal of India & Anr.].
The order was passed on a plea by Moitra who alleged that there was a breach of confidentiality, despite rules and circulars mandating that Lokpal proceedings have to be kept confidential. She claimed that the CBI’s report to Lokpal was leaked to media.
On Monday, Justice Sachin Datta observed that it is obligatory to maintain confidentiality in such proceedings and issued directions to ensure the same.
“It is obligatory on the part of concerned respondents (Lokpal, CBI) to maintain confidentiality, in terms of the statutory provisions read with the prescription in the aforesaid circular dated 05.06.2025. It is directed accordingly,” the Court stated, while disposing of Moitra's plea.
The cash-for-query case pertains to allegations that Moitra asked questions in Parliament and shared her parliament account login credentials with industrialist Darshan Hiranandani in return for favours and expensive gifts.
Based on these allegations, the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee had suggested Moitra’s removal from the Lok Sabha, following which she was expelled from the parliament on December 8, 2023. She was later re-elected to parliament in the 2024 general elections.
Moitra, meanwhile, refuted the allegations against her. She asserted that there was no quid pro quo as claimed, adding that she was being targeted out of a political vendetta.
In March 2024, the Lokpal directed CBI to to register a case and conduct an investigation against Moitra under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) in connection with the matter.
Moitra was represented by a team from Panag & Babu, led by Advocate Samudra Sarangi and assisted by Advocates Saloni Jain, Panya Gupta, Panchi Aggarwal, and Navya Nanda.
Special Public Prosecutor Ripudaman Bhardwaj along with Advocates Kushagra Kumar and Kumar Rana appeared for the respondents (Lokpal, CBI).
[Read order]