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Cash For Query: Parliament Ethics Committee To Question TMC MP Mahua Moitra Tomorrow

In an exclusive media interview, TMC MP Mahua Moitra admitted that she shared her Lok Sabha login credentials with businessman Darshan Hiranandani. However, Moitra denied the allegations of bribery against her. She also demanded that she be given the chance to cross-examine him.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra
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In connection to an alleged cash for query case, the Ethics Committee of Parliament will question Trinamool Congress MP Mohua Moitra  tomorrow.

It has been reported that along with other documents and evidences before the committee, the TMC MP will be questioned on the basis of reports received by the committee from three Union ministries.

Mahua Moitra asked for more time

Earlier, the Ethics Panel directed Moitra to depose before the panel on October 31. However the Ethics Committee of the Parliament, which is probing the allegations, had decided to summon her on November 2 following her request for a fresh date. 

However, stating that her October 31 summon was released to the media before the official letter was mailed to her in the evening, yesterday Moitra sought a fresh date for her appearance

"Chairman, Ethics Comm announced my 31/10 summons on live TV way before official letter emailed to me at 19:20 hrs. All complaints and suo moto affidavits also released to media," she had said.

Moreover, the Trinamool MP had asserted that she would appear before the committee 'immediately right after the pre-scheduled programmes in her constituency which will end on November 4.'

The controversy so far

In an exclusive media interview, Moitra admitted that she shared her Lok Sabha login credentials with businessman Darshan Hiranandani. However,  the TMC MP  denied the allegations of bribery against her. She also demanded that she be given the chance to cross-examine him.

According to Mahua Moitra, the only things she had received from Darshan Hiranandani, the CEO of the Hiranandani Group, as gifts only included one scarf, some lipsticks, and other makeup items including eye shadow.

Her remarks come amid allegations that she received gifts from Mr Hiranandani in exchange for asking questions in Parliament.

The Ethics Committee has now summoned her to present her defence on November 2.

Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey have already recorded their statements before the Ethics Committee.