Mumbai: The Supreme Court has stayed a Delhi High Court order directing the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission to investigate allegations of financial irregularities in the game show `Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC)'' conducted by Star Plus television channel.

A bench headed by Justice B P Singh stayed the high court order after Star India Pvt Ltd moved the apex court.

Senior counsel Arun Jaitley and Mukul Rohtagi, appearing for Star, contended that if the order was not stayed it would become final and trigger a probe, which was completely "unwarranted" and "uncalled for".

The SC also issued a notice to Anuj Kumar Bhati, on whose petition the high court had on April 27 asked MRTPC to probe the matter.

Bhati had alleged that Star India had violated its own rules and repeatedly allowed its employees to take part in the show. He had also sought refund of the amount he allegedly incurred in his attempt to participate in the show.

The HC had sought an explanation as to why the television quiz show, Kaun Banega Crorepati 3, seems easier for Bollywood stars than the other participants. "There is something mysterious as to how actors, who participate on behalf of some charities, invariably get hefty prize money as compared to common public participants," a division bench of Justice Vikramjit Sen and Justice J P Singh observed.

The "coincidence" spurred the bench to direct MRTPC to uncover any "fraud, tricks or manipulations, if any, in the game (KBC-3)".

The programme has drawn flak for alleged misuse of MTNL, BSNL and Airtel airwaves and landlines for enticing the public with "false promises" of winning crores.

Denying that any false impressions were created in the show, Star India said the programme was an independent show based on general knowledge and skill and did not promote products of any specific company. So, it failed to satisfy the ingredients of ''unfair trade practice'', the company said.

"The high court wholly misdirected itself in assuming that the provisions of the MRTP Act would be applicable to the general knowledge quiz game without prima facie satisfying as to whether the ingredients for such investigation are fulfilled," the Star India petition said.

The questions of allurement, misrepresentation or fraud did not arise as the public voluntarily participated in the game show without any inducement, the petition added.

It further said the issues with regard to finance were confidential and proprietary matters and it was not under any obligation to divulge such details.