Cash For Query Plot Thickens: Businessman Names Odisha MP ‘Close’ To Mahua Moitra; Check Her ‘Gun On Head’ Response

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has questioned the credibility of the affidavit submitted before the Ethics Committee of Parliament by CEO of real estate-to-energy group Hiranandani, Darshan Hiranandani, who turned approver and corroborated BJP legislator Nishikant Dubey’s claims about her receiving money and gifts for posing certain questions in Parliament.

Hiranandani’s affidavit also mentioned about Moitra’s “close relations” with an MP from Odisha.

The TMC MP from Krishnanaga, however, alleged that the Prime Minister’s Office forced the businessman to sign a white paper that “was leaked to the media”. “The affidavit is on white paper and not on official letterhead or notarised. Why would one of India’s most respected/ educated businessman sign a letter like this on white paper unless a gun was put to his head to do it?” she said in a statement.

Moitra alleged that the “PMO held a proverbial gun” to Darshan and his father’s “heads and gave them 20 minutes to sign the letter sent to them”. “They were threatened with a total shutdown of all their businesses,” she alleged.

Calling the content of the letter a “joke”, she further claimed that it was drafted by “some half-wit in the PMO who doubles up as a creative writer in the BJP’s IT cell”. “It sings paeans to Modi and Gautam Adani while linking in every opponent of theirs to me and my alleged corruption. Shardul Shroff is the brother of Cyril Shroff who has had a bitter separation of business from him. Cyril Shroff is Gautam Adani’s “samdhi” and was on the SEBl’s committee in total conflict of interest. Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor are both people the government targets relentlessly. Sucheta Dalal is an investigative journalist who is always exposing the government. Clearly someone said “Sabh ka naam ghusaa do, aisa mauka phir nahi ayega!

Moitra also questioned as to why a wealthy successful businessman, who enjoys direct access to every Minister and the PMO, be coerced by a first-time Opposition MP into giving her gifts?  “It is totally illogical and only cements the truth that this letter was drafted by the PMO and not Darshan,” she said.

She claimed that the leaked affidavit is part of a broader strategy by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government to discredit her and divert attention from pressing concerns related to the Adani Group.

Affidavit of Business Tycon Darshan Hiranandani, accused-turned-approver

On Thursday, Darshan Hiranandani claimed that he used the TMC MP’s Parliament login ID to ask questions targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Adani Group. “Mahua Moitra wanted to quickly make a name for herself at the national level. She was advised by her friends and advisors that the shortest possible route to fame is by personally attacking PM Modi.”

Hiranandani, who confirmed to HT over WhatsApp that he released the statement, also admitted that he gave Moitra information on the basis of which she could pose questions attacking the Adani Group, and that she received information from others too on this.

“I felt that, through her, I would get support in other States ruled by the Opposition, because she bonded extremely well with other leaders of the Opposition like Mr Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor and Pinaki Mishra, with whom also she shared close relations.”

Also Read: Role Of ‘Odisha MP’ In Mahua Moitra’s ‘Cash-For-Query’ Row Fuels Speculation

Hiranandani added that Moitra “made frequent demands” including “expensive luxury items, support on the renovation of her officially allotted bungalow in Delhi and logistical help for her holidays.”