NEW DELHI, Nov 8: The BJP MP Nishikant Dubey claimed on Wednesday that Lokpal had ordered a CBI probe against TMC MP Mahua Moitra into the cash-for-query scandal.
In response to Dubey’s X post, Moitra said the agency was welcome to “come and count my shoes”.
“On my complaint, Lokpal today ordered a CBI inquiry against accused Mahua Moitra for indulging in corruption at the cost of national security,” Dubey wrote on X.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla — who referred the complaint to the ethics panel – saying the MP had accepted expensive gifts from businessman Darshan Hiranandani in return for her parliamentary login credentials. Citing ‘evidence’ furnished by Moitra’s former friend Jai Anant Dehadrai, he claimed Hiranandani would post questions directly in Parliament using her login credentials to target the Adani Group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Mahua Moitra has denied any wrongdoings.
In her retort, Moitra wrote on X on Wednesday that the CBI needed to file an FIR in what she called “Adani coal scam.” “For media calling me — my answer: CBI needs to first file FIR on ₹13,000 crore Adani coal scam; National security issue is how dodgy FPI owned (inc Chinese & UAE) Adani firms buying Indian ports and airports with the home ministry’s clearance. Then CBI welcome to come, count my shoes,” she added.
Dubey moved the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal against Mahua Moitra on October 21, accusing her of accepting bribes in lieu of asking questions in Parliament at the behest of Hiranandani.
Moitra appeared before the panel on November 2 to record her oral evidence on the allegations against her. She, however, stormed out of the meeting, claiming chairperson Vinod Sonkar, who belonged to the BJP, asked her “unethical” and personal questions. Sonkar accused Moitra of using unparliamentary language against him and other members of the panel.
The five opposition members had also stormed out of the meeting on November 2, accusing Sonkar of asking indecent questions to Moitra. She later alleged that she was subjected to a “proverbial vastraharan” in the meeting.
(Manas Dasgupta)