KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra has communicated to the Chairman of the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, expressing her unavailability for an appearance until after November 5 due to pre-scheduled commitments.
In her letter, Moitra noted, “I represent the state of West Bengal where Durga Puja is the biggest festival. I am already committed to attending numerous pre-scheduled Vijaya Dashami Sammelans/meetings (both government and political) in my constituency from 30th October to 4th November 2023 and cannot be in Delhi on 31st October 2023. Therefore, I request to be given time to appear in person before the committee at ANY DATE AND TIME OF THE COMMITTEE’S choice after 5th November 2023.”
Moitra also referenced the case of BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri, who had been summoned by the Privileges Committee on October 10 but had his summons rescheduled due to pre-existing political engagements in Rajasthan.
In a significant assertion, Moitra also expressed her intention to cross-examine Darshan Hiranandani of the Hiranandani group before the ethics committee. Her letter stated, “Given the seriousness of the allegations and in keeping with the principles of natural justice, it is imperative that I am allowed to exercise my right to cross-examine Shri Hiranandani.
“It is also imperative that he appear before the committee and provide a detailed verified list of the alleged gifts & favours he allegedly provided to me. I wish to place on record that any enquiry without the oral evidence of Shri Hiranandani will be incomplete, unfair, and akin to holding a proverbial “kangaroo court” and that he too will need to be called to depose before the Committee before it prepares its final report.”
The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee had summoned Mahua Moitra to address the cash-for-query charges on October 31. These charges had been levelled against her by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.
In the complaint, Dubey and advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai alleged that Moitra had shared her Lok Sabha login and password with industrialist Hiranandani.
Hiranandani, in an affidavit submitted to the Ethics Committee, turned approver.
The political storm had erupted after BJP’s Nishikant Dubey accused Moitra, who represents the Krishnanagar constituency in West Bengal, of providing Darshan Hiranandani and the Hiranandani Conglomerate with access to her Lok Sabha website login credentials for personal gain.
Furthermore, Dubey had requested “immediate suspension” for the Krishnanagar MP from the House based on his allegations.
Dubey and advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai had been summoned by the Parliamentary Ethics Committee on October 26. Following Dubey’s complaint against Moitra, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had referred it to the ‘Ethics panel.’
