The Lokpal of India on Monday approached the Delhi High Court to seek a two-month extension to decide whether sanction should be granted to the CBI to file a chargesheet against TMC MP Mahua Moitra in the alleged cash-for-query case.The move comes after the HC last year set aside the Lokpal’s earlier order that had allowed the CBI to proceed against Moitra. At the time, the court had held that the Lokpal had misread the provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act while granting sanction. The court had also directed the anti-corruption ombudsman to reconsider the issue of sanction within one month.When the matter was taken up on Monday, the Lokpal informed the court that it required additional time to complete its consideration and sought a further extension of two months. However, a Division Bench headed by Justice Vivek Chaudhary observed that the Lokpal’s request effectively amounted to seeking a modification of the earlier order passed by a Coordinate Bench that had quashed the sanction.In view of this, the Bench said that it would be appropriate for the fresh application to be placed before the same Bench that had dealt with the matter previously. The case has now been listed for hearing on January 23.The controversy centres on allegations that Moitra received financial benefits in return for raising questions in Parliament on behalf of businessman Darshan Hiranandani, with whom she is known to have close personal ties.Moitra, in an interview earlier, acknowledged that she had shared her Parliament login credentials with Hiranandani, but firmly denied having accepted any cash or favour for tabling questions. She has maintained that the accusations are politically motivated and baseless.The matter surfaced after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey wrote to the Lok Sabha Speaker alleging that Moitra had taken bribes to raise questions in Parliament. Dubey said that his complaint was based on a letter received from advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, who had levelled similar allegations.Following the complaint, Moitra issued legal notices to Dubey, Dehadrai and several media organisations, rejecting the charges and calling them defamatory.