Mahua appearing before ethics panel today

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra is set to appear before the ethics committee today in the cash-for-query case. Just ahead of her appearance, the MP shared a copy of the letter that she had written to the panel on Wednesday.

Moitra has been embroiled in a political controversy, following BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, where it has been alleged that Moitra received bribes from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to target the Adani Group.

Sharing the letter, dated October 31 on X, Moitra 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 stated in the letter that parliamentary committees lack criminal jurisdiction and emphasised the importance of involving law enforcement agencies in such cases. Moitra also expressed her desire to cross-examine alleged “bribe-giver,” Hiranandani, who submitted an affidavit to the committee “without offering substantial evidence”.

The Lok Sabha MP also sought to cross-examine the complainant, Jai Anant Dehadrai, who she claimed provided no documentary evidence to support the charges.

“In light of the seriousness of the allegations, it is imperative that the alleged ‘bribe-giver’ Darshan Hiranandani, who has given a ‘suo-moto’ 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 said.

“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 said.

In a post on social media site X, Mahua’s said to be former partner Jai Anant Dehadrai has called Moitra a “jilted ex” and said “the person accused of corruption and compromising national security is guilty of something far worse.”

Even without taking any name, Dehadrai made it quite clear in his post on microblogging platform X that he was referring to Mahua Moitra as he said he is not talking about the theft of his dog.