‘Cash for Query’ Row: Ethics Panel to Adopt Draft Report on Nov 7, Indication of Recommendation Against Moitra – News18

The Lok Sabha ethics committee will meet on November 7 to consider and adopt its draft report in relation to the ‘cash-for-query’ allegations against TMC MP Mahua Moitra by BJP’s Nishikant Dubey. The 15-member committee is likely to take a grim view of her conduct with BJP members in a majority.

The situation has worsened after Moitra stormed out of the last meeting on November 2 and accused the parliamentary panel’s chairperson Vinod Kumar Sonkar of asking filthy and personal questions to her, a charge he denied. He later responded to this by alleging that the MP created a ruckus, got angry, used unparliamentary language and stormed out of the meeting in which she was supported by opposition members of the panel.

The meeting for adopting the draft report means that the committee has finished its inquiry and will now be making its recommendation after its members split along party lines in their last get-together.

What are the allegations against Moitra?

Dubey has accused Moitra of asking questions in Lok Sabha to target the Adani Group at the behest of businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for bribes. He said it was Hiranandani who used her login ID to file questions from different places, mostly Dubai.

Hiranandani later alleged that Moitra took bribes in the form of expensive gifts and even submitted an affidavit to this effect to the ethics committee.

What is Moitra’s rebuttal?

Moitra has admitted that he used her login details but has rejected any pecuniary considerations, asserting that most MPs share their credentials with others.

(With PTI inputs)