Recently, Delhi High Court has refused to interfere with Lokpal proceedings initiated against ex-IAS officer Ramesh Abhishek for alleged possession of disproportionate assets.

The bench headed by Justice Prathiba M Singh, while dealing with the former Forward Markets Commission Chairman's challenge to an order passed by the Lokpal directing a probe by the Enforcement Directorate, said repeated petitions to interdict the proceedings before the ombudsman would defeat the purpose of the law.

Back in 2019, the petitioner got a retirement, assailed the Lokpal proceedings on several grounds, including that under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, an enquiry can relate to only the period during which the public servant is holding a position in a serving capacity.

While hearing an argument, the bench noted, an order for initiating prosecution against the petitioner was yet to be passed and the investigating agency was also yet to file its final report on the matter. It clarified that the petitioner may move an appropriate application before Lokpal for dealing with the findings at an appropriate stage.