The Supreme Court has expressed serious concerns over a Lokpal directive that allowed complaints against a sitting High Court judge. A special bench has issued notices to the Centre, Lokpal registrar, and the complainant while seeking their responses. The bench has also restrained the complainant from disclosing the judge's identity and ordered that the complaint remain confidential, stating that this matter is "very, very disturbing" in relation to judicial independence.
In a case of great importance concerning the independence of the judiciary, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Centre on Thursday regarding a Lokpal order asserting jurisdiction to probe High Court judges. The notice comes as the top court stays the Lokpal order which received sharp criticism. Justices BR Gavai, Surya Kant, and Abhay S Oka expressed their concerns over the matter, while the Centre and the Registrar of Lokpal were issued the notice. Senior advocates argued against the Lokpal order, calling it "disturbing" and "fraught with danger".
The CBI has conducted searches at the premises of Mahua Moitra, former TMC MP, in multiple locations including Kolkata, in connection with the alleged cash-for-query case. The agency registered an FIR against Moitra on the directions of the Lokpal after receiving findings of a preliminary inquiry into allegations made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. Moitra, who was expelled from the Lok Sabha for "unethical conduct", has challenged her expulsion in the Supreme Court and is set to contest the upcoming general elections as a TMC candidate from the Krishnanagar seat in West Bengal.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a probe against Ramesh Abhishek, former Secretary of DPIIT and Chairman of FMC, and his daughter following a reference from Lokpal in December 2023. The investigation follows allegations of receiving large sums of money as professional fees from entities that Mr. Abhishek had official dealings with during his tenure. Mr. Abhishek retired in July 2019 and the CBI has named both him and his daughter in their FIR.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai to record his statement in connection with allegations of corruption against former Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra. The probe was initiated by the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal after a complaint was filed by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. Moitra was expelled from Lok Sabha last month for accepting gifts and illegal gratification from a businessman.