Key Takeaways
- The Lok Sabha letter alleges Mohua Moitra accepted cash to raise questions favoring a businessman.
- Evidence reportedly links Darshan Hiranandani to the alleged bribery scheme.
- The case echoes the 2005 Cash for Query scandal that led to expulsions of MPs.
In a not-so-startling claim made by BJP Lok Sabha MP, Nishikant Dubey, in his letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, Dubey has alleged that TMC Lok Sabha MP Mohua Moitra is directly involved in a nasty ‘cash for query’ scam. In his letter to Speaker Birla, Dubey has alleged that he has irrefutable evidence against Moitra, shared with him by Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, of bribes taken by Mohua Moitra, from a well-known business tycoon, Darshan Hiranandani, to ask questions in the Parliament, in exchange for ‘cash’ and ‘gifts’.
Dubey’s letter to Om Birla states, ‘It appears that Jai Anant Dehadrai has done elaborate and painstaking research, on the basis of which, he has concluded that till quite recently, Moitra asked approximately 50 questions out of a total of 61 posted by her. These questions shockingly seek information with the intent of protecting or perpetuating the business interests of Darshan Hiranandani and his company.’
‘The questions were also often focused on the Adani Group, another business conglomerate, against which the Hiranandani Group was bidding for business. The entire conspiracy does not end here. In the past few years, a clever façade was crafted, when Mohua Moitra, as Opposition leader, vehemently targeted PM Narendra Modi and HM Amit Shah, constantly referencing to the Adani Group, giving the impression that she was critical of the government, possibly with the intention of seeking cover against her clandestine criminal operation.’, Nishikant Dubey’s letter further mentions.
The BJP Lok Sabha MP added, ‘After having meticulously gone through all the papers/documents, there is an iota of doubt about a criminal conspiracy hatched by Moitra, to garner and protect the business interests of Hiranandani, by asking Parliamentary questions, which is reminiscent of the ‘Cash for Query’ episode of 12 December, 2005. All these nefarious and abhorrent acts of Moitra are a clear case of breach of privilege, contempt of the House, and also a criminal offense under Section 120A of the IPC.’
The letter states that all the relevant evidence in the form of the papers and documents had been enclosed by Dubey in his letter to Birla.
‘Whenever there is a Parliament session, the shouting brigade of the TMC, led by Moitra and Saugata Ray, are in a habit of disrupting the proceedings of the House by their continued abuses on each and everybody, on one pretext or the other. I, along with several other MPs, were always perplexed as to why this shouting brigade of the TMC, led by Moitra, indulges in such tactics, which infringes on the constitutional rights of other members, to debate and discuss the issues of the common people and policies of the government.’, says Dubey.
‘Now, with the unmasking of this quid pro quo, in the form of the ugly and deliberate motives of Moitra, to raise money from a businessman in lieu of asking questions in the Lok Sabha, targeting another business group, it has become amply clear that the edifice of morality being exhibited by Moitra was nothing but a Machiavellian camouflage for committing a crime by entering into a criminal conspiracy and at the same time, enjoying the title given to Mohua, as a firebrand member of the Parliament, which is nothing but a sham.’, the BJP MP expresses in his letter.
Recalling the happenings of 12 Dec, 2005, Dubey added, ‘When a similar episode happened on 12 December, 2005, during the 14th Lok Sabha, and then, the Honorable Speaker immediately constituted an inquiry committee on the same day itself, whereby, Pawan Kumar Bansal was appointed as the Chairperson. The said committee investigated the matter in detail and immediately submitted its report. Subsequently, on the basis of a motion moved by Late Pranab Mukherjee, the Leader of House, 10 members were expelled from the membership of the Lok Sabha, on 23 Dec, 2005, that is, in a record time of just 23 days.’
