Cash-For-Query Case: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra pleaded innocence to the 'cash-for-query' allegation levelled against her as she appeared before the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee on Thursday.
She told the parliamentary committee that the charge was motivated by the animus of advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai after she broke her personal relations with him, reported PTI.
However, the opposition members along with Moitra stormed out of the meeting, accusing the panel chief of asking personal and unethical questions to the TMC MP.
Sources told PTI that a large part of her deposition before the committee was about her relationship with Dehadrai as she appeared to blame him for leaks and the allegations.
She was earlier asked to appear on Oct 31 but the summon was postponed after she expressed unavailability citing "pre-scheduled constituency programmes".
The TMC MP wore a red saree as she arrived in parliament.
The case pertains to the allegations levelled by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey that Moitra received bribes from Hiranandani to target the Adani Group. Dubey wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to make these allegations. Moitra's appearance came days after she sought a hearing date after November 5 due to prior commitments. Her request for an extension beyond November 2 was denied. Initially, the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee had requested Mahua Moitra to appear on October 31.
On Wednesday, Moitra shared a copy of the letter written by her to the panel. She shared the letter dated October 31 on X and said, "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".
In the letter, Moitra said she will appear before the panel on November 2 and will “demolish” the complaint of cash-for-query against her. She further stated in the letter that parliamentary committees lack criminal jurisdiction and emphasised the importance of involving law enforcement agencies in such cases.
Moitra stressed her demand for being allowed to cross-examine businessman Darshan Hiranandani, who is accused of providing bribes to her in exchange for posing questions in Parliament. Moitra contended that an inquiry without permitting her the chance to cross-examine would be both "incomplete and unfair." In her letter, she underlined the absence of a structured Code of Conduct for members and the vital need for impartiality, fairness, and avoidance of political bias within the committee when addressing individual cases
Nishikant Dubey had accused Moitra of compromising national interest by sharing her parliamentary portal log-in and password with an outsider, and has cited the agreement MPs sign to keep the details secret to demand action against her. Nearly 47 log-ins to Moitra's parliamentary account were made from Dubai, news agency PTI reported, citing sources.
Last week, Moitra said that she gave her Parliament login ID and password to businessman and her "friend" Darshan Hiranandani to get someone to type the questions to be asked in the Lok Sabha. She further stated that after putting the question in, an OTP (one-time password) comes to her mobile phone, and the question gets submitted only after she gives the OTP.