New Delhi, Aug 18 - The Delhi High Court Tuesday asked police why a journalist, who had carried a sting operation on MPs in the infamous cash-for-query scam, was made party to the case and criminal proceedings started against him.

Delhi Police have been asked to reply by Sep 15 following an application filed by editor of cobrapost.com Anirudh Bahal seeking quashing of charges against him in the scam.

Bahal in his petition said the sting operation was carried out in the public interest and the intention of the operation was to expose corrupt MPs.

He said the initiation of criminal proceedings against him was an 'unreasonable restriction on the right of the petitioners to free speech and expression'.