Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra is surrounded by a massive row after BJP's Nishikant Dubey alleged that she accepted "Cash and gift" from businessman Darshan Hiranandani for "asking" questions in Parliament. Mahua and the opposition retorted with an anti-Adani stance while BJP has grabbed the opportunity to tear down into the opposition. Within a week, the case has spread like fire with a series of developments. What started with a complaint to Lok Sabha speaker, has now reached the stage of court battle. The complaint has also reached the ethics panel of Parliament.


"I have received letter/affidavit from Darshan Hiranandani", said the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of Ethics, Vinod Sonkar. 


In the latest development, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan withdrew himself from the matter. The reason for this is -- advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai -- a crucial link to the case and the one believed to be Mahua's 'jilted ex'. Here's a recap of what happened so far.


Allegations



BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Sunday said that he has received a letter from a lawyer named Jai Anant Dehadrai. The letter states, he said, that TMC MP Mahua Moitra accepted "cash and gifts" from businessman Darshan Hiranandani in order to "ask questions in Parliament". He said the letter reveals indisputable proof of bribes exchanged between Moitra and Darshan Hiranandani.


"It appeared that the representationist, Dehadrai has made elaborate and painstaking research on the basis of which he has concluded that quite recently, Moitra asked approximately 50 questions in Parliament of the total 61 posted by her, which shockingly pertain to the protect the business interests of Darshan Hiranandani and his company...The representationist has also forwarded all the relevant papers/documents in support of his information which I am enclosing along with my instant letter," the BJP MP's letter read.


Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, expressed 'shock and shame' at the "cash for query" case and said: "I have learnt from news reports that this Parliamentary Question was likely asked by an MP at the behest of a Data centre company. If true, this is indeed shocking and shameful." He also pointed out the striking similarities between the language used in the PQ and the company's lobbying efforts, as it pertained to data localization and data breaches. Chandrasekhar made it clear that while he may not have all the facts, if the allegations are accurate, it signifies a "terrible travesty and misuse of PQs."


 



Mahua's 'Fake Degree MP' And 'Jilted Ex' Response


Soon after the complaint came forth, Mahua responded in a post on X and said: "Multiple breach of privileges pending against fake degreewala and other BJP luminaries. Welcome any motions against me right after Speaker finishes dealing with those. Also waiting for ED and others to file FIR in Adani coal scam before coming to my doorstep."


She welcomed a CBI inquiry into "my alleged money laundering right after they finish investigating Adani's offshore money trail, over invoicing, benami accounts. Adani may use BJP agencies to browbeat competition and buy airports but just try doing it with me."


Later, an Adani Group spokesperson highlighted in a statement that a Supreme Court lawyer recently filed a formal complaint with the CBI submitting a sworn affidavit that outlined what he described as "the commission of an elaborate criminal conspiracy". 


Sharing Adani Group's letter on X, Mahua Moitra referred to Nishikant Dubey, again, as a fake degree MP and apparently to lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai as a "jilted ex". "Mr A -  this lame statement your best efforts?  Falling back on Fake Degree MP & a jilted ex’s lies? I won’t rest till @dir_ed, @CBItweets investigate & freeze ₹13000 cr coal scam you have stolen from Indians. I’m told even Hon’ble @narendramodi is sick of you & your frauds," the 'X' post read.


 


Oppn Hits Out At BJP


Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut reacted to the allegations and said that the BJP can’t digest someone questioning any industrialist, including Adani. "BJP can’t stomach someone questioning any industrialist, including Adani, which is why they level such allegations. Mahua Moitra is a renowned leader of the TMC and they (BJP) are trying to demoralise her," Sanjay Raut said.


Telangana Minister & BRS leader KT Rama Rao said: "...What is the issue - whether the questions being asked in the Parliament are right or wrong, if the Government has answers to the questions. Why is the Government troubled whenever questions are raised about Adani?...I think the Government is indulging in witch-hunt and trying to hassle her. My complete support is to Mahua Moitra. She has been fighting in Parliament and I think she is doing a valiant fight. I support her fully on this. I think the question should be whether or not she has been pointing fingers in the right direction and I believe she is..."



Complaints Reaches Ethics Panel


On Tuesday, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's "bribe-for-query" complaint against TMC MP Mahua Moitra was sent to the Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha by speaker Om Birla. The panel is chaired by BJP member Vinod Kumar Sonkar.


The Parliamentary committee has called BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Oct 26 for oral evidence in his 'cash-for-query' complaint against TMC's Mahua Moitra. The committee will also hear advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai on Oct 26 on BJP MP Dubey's complaint against Mahua Moitra


 


Hiranandani's Shocking Disclosures


On Thursday, Darshan Hiranandani, the CEO of real estate-to-energy group Hiranandani, turned approver. In a signed "affidavit", he said he used the TMC MP’s Parliamentary login to "directly" post questions for the BJP-led central government, news agency PTI reported Thursday.


"She shared with me her email ID as Member of Parliament, so that I could send her information, and she could raise the questions in the Parliament. I went along with her proposal,”" he said in the affidavit. She "provided me with her Parliament login and password so that I could post the questions directly on her behalf when required."


“Moitra was very ambitious and wanted to make a name for herself at the national level,” he said of her winning the Lok Sabha election from Krishnanagar in West Bengal in 2019.


"She was advised by her friends and advisors that the shortest possible route to fame is by personally attacking Modi." However, the prime minister enjoyed "an impeccable reputation and was not giving any opportunity to anyone to attack him in policy, governance or personal conduct," he said, according to PTI.


He further claimed that Moitra "made frequent demands" including "expensive luxury items, providing support on renovation of her officially allotted bungalow in Delhi, travel expenses, holidays, etc, apart from providing secretarial and logistical help for her travels within India and to different parts of the world."


 


Mahua On Hiranandani's Statement


TMC MP Mahua Moitra alleged that an "approver affidavit" in the matter has been "leaked to the press". She added that it was on a white piece of paper bearing no "letterhead". "...there is no official origin aside from a press peak." "Darshan Hiranandani has not been summoned by the CBI or the Ethics Committee or indeed by any investigative agency yet. Who then has he given this affidavit to? The affidavit is on white paper or 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," Moitra wrote.


She further said: "It (the affidavit) sings paeans to Modi and Gutam Adani while linking in every opponent of theirs to me and my alleged corruption. Cyril Shroff is Gautam Adani's “samdhi” and was on the SEBI'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."


 


Mahua's Counsel Withdraws From Cases


On Friday, the TMC MP's counsel withdrew from a case in the Delhi High Court seeking restraint orders for BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and several media houses from circulating any alleged defamatory content against her. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan withdrew himself after the court was informed by advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai that he was contacted by Sankaranarayanan over phone on Thursday night.


"I have absolutely no comments except to say, because Jai (Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai) instructed me in a case, I had reached out to him yesterday and had asked him is there any way of exploring a settlement. Jai had said that he will get back to me, but he didn't. Today when I appeared, Jai personally said to me he had an objection to me appearing. I immediately withdrew and said that I don't want to do this case..." Sankaranarayanan said.