‘Cash-For-Query Case’: Mahua Moitra, Oppn Members Walk Out Of Ethics Committee Meet, Know Why

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra and Opposition members on Thursday stormed out of Lok Sabha Ethics Committee meeting, where the former appeared for deposition in ‘cash for query’ charge levelled against her by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.

The TMC MP claimed that the panel put forth a bunch of ‘filthy’ questions which prompted her to leave the meeting.

Congress MP and panel member N Uttam Kumar Reddy told the media that the Opposition members found the panel chairperson’s questions to Moitra “undignified and unethical.” They also questioned the manner in which the meeting was conducted.

The TMC MP is accused of taking bribes from Dubai-based businessman Darshan Hiranandani to raise questions in Parliament, targeting the Adani Group. The allegations against her gained momentum after Hiranandani filed an explosive affidavit, confirming the same.

According to reports, Moitra, carrying three bags, turned up at Parliament for the hearing at 11 am. She was reportedly aggressive in her deposition and was reminded by a JDU member that she was appearing before the panel as a witness, not as a member of Parliament. She provided details of her friendship with lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai and claimed he had “personal reasons” to lodge the complaint (to the CBI). Moitra also stressed that she had not violated any parliamentary rules while sharing her Lok Sabha website’s login credentials with businessman Darshan Hiranandani, but denied taking any cash from him, Hindustan Times reported quoting sources.

In an interview with Indian Express, Moitra had earlier said, “No MP types her/his own question. I have given him (Darshan) the password and login for someone in his office to type it (the questions) down and upload.”

Notably, the TMC MP had requested the ethics panel for a summons date after November 5 citing pre-scheduled Vijaya Dashmi programmes, but was denied an extension beyond November 2.  She had also asked for permission to cross-examine the alleged “bribe giver” Hiranandani and the complainant, advocate Dehadrai, in the case.

Posting the two-page letter to the Ethics Committee chief and BJP MP Vinod Kumar Sonkar on her X handle, Moitra wrote, “Since Ethics Committee deemed it fit to release my summons to the media I think it is important I too release my letter to the Committee before my “hearing” tomorrow.

Since Ethics Committee deemed it fit to release my summons to the media I think it is important I too release my letter to the Committee before my “hearing” tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/A8MwFRsImk

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) November 1, 2023

The committee, led by BJP MP Vinod Sonkar, also comprises MPs V Vaithilingam, Danish Ali, Sunita Duggal, Aparajita Sarangi, Parneet Kaur, Swami Sumedhanand and Rajdeep Roy.