'Cash-For-Query' Row: Mahua Moitra To Skip Ethics Panel's Oct 31 Summons, Seeks Time After Nov 5. Here's Why

TMC MP Mahua Moitra will not be appearing before the Lok Sabha's ethics panel on October 31 due to "pre-scheduled" constituency programmes in connection with the 'cash for query' case.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra on Friday wrote to Lok Sabha's Ethics Committee sharing that she won't be able to appear before the panel on October 31 in the 'cash for query' case. The Lok Sabha MP cited her pre-scheduled constituency programmes a reason for her unavailability and sought time after November 5. Moitra also shared the letter in a post on X, formerly Twitter, saying that the committee's chairman announced her summon on live TV before officially mailing her the letter.

"Chairman, Ethics Comm announced my 31/10 summons on live TV way before official letter emailed to me at 19:20 hrs. All complaints & suo moto affidavits also released to media.  I look forward to deposing immediately after my pre- scheduled constituency programmes end on Nov 4," she captioned the post.

Mahua has been in soup since after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accused her of receiving "cash and gifts" from businessman Darshan Hiranandani for asking questions in Parliament. Later, Darshanandani, in a signed affidavit, accepted proving Moitra with her luxurious demands while he used her parliament login to ask questions to target Gautam Adani and PM Narendra Modi.

The Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha on Thursday called Mahua Moitra to appear before it on October 31 as the panel held the first meeting related to a "cash-for-query" complaint against her. In the first hearing, Nishikant Dubey and advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai recorded their statements before the panel on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters, the Chairman of Parliament Ethics Committee, Vinod Sonkar said, "The two people who were summoned today - the lawyer and Nishikant Dubey - were heard attentively. After that, it was decided that Mahua Moitra would be called on 31st October. She will come and present her part. The committee has also decided that IT Ministry and MHA will be sent letters to make her details available."

What Mahua Said In Letter

The TMC MP expressed her "eagerness" to be given "a fair hearing and an adequate opportunity to defend myself against" the "false, malicious and defamatory" accusations levelled Nishikant Dubey and Jai Anant Dehadrai. She said the panel acted against the order of natural justice by calling the complainants first in the case, "before allowing me, the alleged accused, a chance to be heard".

Mahua said she represents the state of West Bengal where Durga Puja is the biggest festival and that she was committed to attending numerous pre-scheduled Vijaya Dashami meetings (both government and political) in her constituency from October 30 to November 4. She said that due to these reasons, she won't be able to come to Delhi on October 31.

"Therefore, I request to be given time to appear in person before the committee at ANY DATE AND TIME OF THE COMMITTEE'S choice after 5th November 2023," she added,

The Lok Saba MP cited the example of BJP MP Ramesh Biduri, who was summoned by the Privileges Committee for his comment against BSP MP Danish Malik. She said Biduri had pre-fixed political meetings in Rajasthan and was accorded a similar courtesy by the same branch.

Mahua Seeks Permission To Cross-Examine Darshan Hiranandani

In her letter to the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, Mahua urged the chairman to allow her to cross-examine industrialist Darshan Hiranandani saying that his affidavit available in the public domain, is extremely "scant on detail" and provides no actual inventory of what he has allegedly given her.

"Given the seriousness of the allegations and in keeping with the principles of natural justice, it is imperative that I am allowed to exercise my right to cross-examine Shri Hiranandani," she said.

"It is also imperative that he appear before the committee and provide a detailed verified list of the alleged gifts & favours he allegedly provided to me. I wish to place on record that any enquiry without the oral evidence of Shri Hiranandani will be incomplete, unfair and in to holding a proverbial "kangaroo court" and that he too will need to be called to depose before the Committee before it prepares its final report," Mahua added in the letter.