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She has also requested permission to cross-examine both Darshan Hiranandani, the alleged ‘bribe giver,’ and Advocate Jai Dehadrai, the complainant in this case.
The allegations against Mahua Moitra revolve around claims of ‘cash for query’ made by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey. Dubey has accused Moitra of accepting bribes from Dubai-based businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for raising questions in Parliament aimed at targeting the Adani Group.
Nishikant Dubey, a BJP MP, expressed his concerns to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in a letter titled “Re-emergence of nasty ‘Cash for Query’ in Parliament.” He called for an investigation into the matter, alleging that Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai had provided him with evidence of the alleged bribes.
On Wednesday, the Lok Sabha member from TMC publicly shared a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Ethics Committee, who is a BJP MP named Vinod Kumar Sonkar. Through her X handle, Moitra posted the two-page letter and expressed her viewpoint, stating, “Given that the Ethics Committee has chosen to disclose my summons to the media, I believe it is crucial for me to make my letter to the Committee public in advance of my upcoming ‘hearing’ tomorrow.”
In her letter, Moitra contended that Advocate Dehadrai had not presented any substantiating documentary evidence to support his accusations in either his written complaint or during his oral hearing.”In keeping with the principles of natural justice I wish to exercise my right to cross-examine Dehadrai,” she wrote in her letter to the Committee.”In light of the seriousness of the allegations, it is imperative that the alleged ‘bribe-giver’ Darshan Hiranandani, who has given a ‘Suo-Motu’ affidavit to the Committee with scant details and no documentary evidence whatsoever, be called to depose before the Committee and provide the said evidence in the form of a documented itemised inventory with amounts, date etc” she further wrote.
“I wish to place on record that in keeping with the principles of natural Justice I wish to exercise my right to cross-examine Hiranandani,” she added.
Moitra had asked the Committee to answer in writing and place on record their decision to either allow or disallow such cross-examination.
Moreover, the TMC MP also raised concerns over the ‘double standards’ of the Ethics Committee and highlighted that the panel is adopting a different approach in the case of BJP MP Ramesh Biduri, who she says has a very serious complaint of hate speech.
“In direct contrast, a very different approach has been adopted in the case of Shri Ramesh Biduri, MP, BJP who has a very serious complaint of hate speech (which was openly made on the floor of the House) pending against him on the Privileges and Ethics branch made by a Hon’ble member of this same Committee, Shri Danish Ali, MP. Biduri was summoned on October 10, 2023, to provide oral evidence and informed the Committee that he was away campaigning in Rajasthan and would not be attending. No further date for his hearing has been given so far. I wish to place on record that these double standards reek of political motives and do little to enhance the credibility of the Privileges & Ethics Branch,” Moitra said in the letter.
The TMC MP also questioned the jurisdiction of the committee in investigating alleged criminality.
With inputs from ANI
