The Supreme Court on Friday stayed Delhi high court order directing Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission to investigate allegations of financial irregularities by Star Plus television channel in its game show Kaun Banega Crorepati.

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

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

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'.

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.