'Cash for Query' Row: Opposition MPs Submit Dissent Note to Ethics Panel, Say Probe 'Unfair' to Mahua Moitra

Opposition MPs have submitted a dissent note on the Lok Sabha ethics committee draft report on the ‘cash for query’ allegations against TMC MP Mahua Moitra. Sources said one common ground forming their dissent is that the probe has not been fair. The parliamentary panel on Thursday recommended the expulsion of Moitra from the House.

According to sources, opposition MPs have pointed out that Dubai-based businessman Darshan Hiranandani should have been summoned by the parliamentary panel to ensure a free and fair inquiry in all respects.

It has been alleged that Moitra took expensive gifts as bribes from Hiranandani in exchange for asking questions about the Adani Group in Parliament. The businessman had submitted an affidavit to this effect to the ethics committee but has not been summoned for a hearing in the matter. Moitra has repeatedly demanded that she should be allowed to cross-question Hiranandani.

CNN-News18 had earlier reported that while recommending Moitra’s expulsion, the ethics panel has stated that the MP’s conduct was “highly objectionable, unethical, heinous and criminal” as there were “serious misdemeanours” on her part.

The committee, headed by BJP MP Vinod Kumar Sonkar, met and adopted its report recommending Moitra’s expulsion. After the meeting, Sonkar said six members of the panel supported the adoption of the report while four opposed it. The report will now be sent to Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla for further action.

With BJP members in a majority, it was already highly likely that the 15-member committee would be taking a grim view of the charges against Moitra. This became more apparent after she accused Sonkar of asking filthy and personal questions to her during the hearing. The TMC leader had stormed out of that meeting, supported by opposition members of the committee.

The committee has earlier heard Moitra, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who filed the complaint against her, and advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai. Based on information shared by Dehadrai, the BJP MP accused Moitra of asking questions in the Lok Sabha to target the Adani Group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the behest of Hiranandani in exchange for gifts. Moitra has denied the charge of receiving any pecuniary benefit.

(With PTI inputs)