Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Nov 25: After facing the possibility of being expelled from the Lok Sabha on the recommendation of the Ethics Committee of the House, more trouble is brewing for the Trinamool Congress member Mahua Moitra with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) initiating an inquiry into the alleged “cash for query” controversy on reference made by the Lokpal.
Clarifying that no preliminary inquiry has been instituted against Ms Moitra so far, a source said the agency was currently “examining” the Lokpal reference. The sources said the CBI was “looking into a complaint forwarded by the Lokpal regarding the allegation against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra related to certain questions raised by her in the Lok Sabha.”
Under a preliminary enquiry, the CBI cannot arrest an accused or conduct searches, but it can seek information, examine documents and also question the Trinamool MP. Since this enquiry was initiated based on the orders of the Lokpal, the report will be submitted to the anti-corruption body.
The CBI complaint in the case had been filed by Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai who had alleged that Ms Moitra had taken bribes from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to ask questions in Parliament.
Mr Dehadrai had also written to BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and, based on Mr Dubey’s complaint, Speaker Om Birla had referred the matter to the Ethics Committee. Mr Dubey had also filed a complaint with the Lokpal.
In an affidavit sent to the panel, Mr Hiranandani had alleged that the Trinamool MP had shared her email ID as a Member of Parliament so that he could send her information and she could raise the questions in the Parliament. He claimed she later gave him her Parliament login and password so he could post the questions directly.
“Mahua Moitra wanted to quickly make a name for herself at the national level. She was advised by her friends and advisors that the shortest possible route to fame is by personally attacking PM Narendra Modi,” Mr Hiranandani had alleged in the affidavit, adding, “Ms Moitra thought that the only way to attack PM Modi is by attacking Gautam Adani as both were contemporaries and belong to the same state of Gujarat.”
After conducting hearings, the Ethics Committee had, earlier this month adopted a report recommending Ms Moitra’s expulsion from the House for accepting “illegal gratifications” from Mr Hiranandani to raise questions in Parliament at his behest. The report had been adopted by a 6:4 verdict, with four opposition members recording their disapproval. The report, which also recommended her expulsion for “unethical conduct” and “contempt of the House,” had been submitted to the office of Speaker Om Birla.
The report will be tabled before the Lok Sabha on the first day of the Winter Session scheduled to begin on December 4, for a voting in the House on the recommendation for her expulsion from the House. Ms Moitra has denied the bribery charges but has admitted to have shared her Parliament log-in and password with Hiranandani claiming that it was common with all MPs to share their log-in with their staff and others.
Following the Mahua Moitra episode, the Parliament secretariat last week issued a directive to all the MPs not to share Parliament account log-in and password with anyone.
The CBI move comes two days after West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee broke her silence on the controversy and said Ms Moitra’s chances would be boosted in getting re-elected in the coming Parliamentary elections if she was expelled from the Lok Sabha based on the report by the Ethics Committee.
