26-10-2023 : The Parliament ethics committee is delving into a controversy that has gripped the Indian political landscape. The committee has summoned Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra to appear before them on October 31 in connection with allegations of a “cash-for-query” scandal. The allegations revolve around claims that Moitra accepted bribes from businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for asking questions in the parliament.
This development came after the committee heard the statements of BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, who had leveled accusations against the TMC lawmaker. The allegations have raised serious concerns regarding the ethics and integrity of parliamentary proceedings.
Vinod Sonkar, the head of the ethics committee, made the announcement, indicating that the committee had taken the statements of Dubey and Dehadrai into account. Following these statements, it was decided that Mahua Moitra would be called to provide her side of the story on October 31. Additionally, the committee intends to seek further details from the Ministry of Information Technology (IT) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Dehadrai was the first to present his statement before the ethics committee, and Dubey followed suit in the afternoon. Prior to appearing before the panel, Dubey had written a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, urging for Moitra’s immediate suspension from the house and accusing her of breaching parliamentary privilege. In his letter, Dubey alleged that there was “irrefutable evidence of bribes exchanged” between Moitra and businessman Hiranandani, purportedly to target the Adani Group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaker Birla subsequently forwarded Dubey’s complaint to the Ethics Committee, which is chaired by BJP MP Vinod Sonkar. The committee comprises members from various political parties, including the BJP, Congress, Shiv Sena, JD(U), CPI(M), and BSP. The allegations have brought an air of controversy to the parliament, and it has drawn attention from across the political spectrum.
Notably, businessman Darshan Hiranandani has acknowledged that Moitra shared her Lok Sabha login details with him, enabling him to directly post questions on her behalf. Hiranandani’s signed affidavit submitted to the ethics panel revealed that Moitra had made various demands, including luxury items, support for renovating her official residence in Delhi, travel expenses, and more, in exchange for her assistance on his behalf.
In response to these allegations, Mahua Moitra vehemently denied all charges, characterizing them as falsehoods from a “jilted ex” – referring to Dehadrai. She asserted that she was being targeted by the Adani Group due to her persistent questioning of the conglomerate’s practices. Furthermore, she dismissed Hiranandani’s affidavit as a “joke” and suggested that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) might have coerced him into signing the document.
The unfolding scandal is likely to have far-reaching implications, as it raises concerns not only about the alleged misconduct of a sitting Member of Parliament but also about the sanctity and credibility of parliamentary processes in India. As Mahua Moitra prepares to present her case before the ethics committee, the nation watches closely, eager to understand the truth behind the “cash-for-query” allegations.