‘Articulate allegations that constitute graft’: Lokpal to complainants against SEBI chief

Although the 11-page order has redacted the names of both the complainants and the subject of the complaint — the SEBI chairperson — the complaint itself is reproduced in its entirety.

Last week, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra had filed a complaint with the Lokpal against SEBI’s Buch, alleging “quid pro quo arrangements which potentially threaten national interests”.

The Lokpal bench also comprises former Law Commission Chairperson Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice L Narayana Swamy and Sushil Chandra.

“We make it clear that the observations made hitherto in the concerned complaint and/or in the totality, may not be construed as an expression of opinion by the Lokpal one way or the other. This direction is only a procedural order, issued for testing the question of tenability of the concerned complaint and to record a prima facie view as required under section 20 of the (Lokpal) Act of 2013, in the peculiar situation,” the order stated.

The case is likely to be heard next on October 17.