New Delhi:

Amid the ongoing “cash for query” controversy and war of words between BJP leaders and TMC MP Mahua Moitra, the latter has debunked the allegations made by Union Minister Nishikant Dubey.

Ms Moitra said that there has been no evidence by the BJP to back the ‘fake allegation”.

“First BJP said “Cash for Questions.” That failed since no evidence to back the fake allegation. Now it is “National Security”, said Mahua Moitra in a post on X.

Ms Moitra’s statement comes after Anurag Thakur launched a scathing attack on the TMC MP.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur said this is a matter of ‘national security’ and added that ‘an inquiry and appropriate action should be taken quickly’.

Amid the ongoing cash for query row, The TMC MP has been asked to depose before the Ethics Committee headed by BJP MP Vinod Sonkar to submit oral evidence in regard to the complaint filed against her by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.

The face-off between BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and TMC MP Mahua Moitra started when BJP MP Nishikant Dubey wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla making “cash for query” allegations against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and demanding an inquiry committee against her.

He urged for her “immediate suspension” from the House alleging that “bribes were exchanged between her and businessman Darshan Hiranandani to ask questions in Parliament in exchange for cash and gifts”.

In his letter titled “Re-emergence of nasty ‘Cash for Query’ in Parliament”, Dubey has alleged “‘serious Breach of Privilege’, ‘Contempt of the House’ and a ‘Criminal Offence’ under Section 120A of IPC” by the Trinamool Congress MP.

The businessman, Darshan Hiranandani, responded in an affidavit.

In his 3-page signed affidavit, Darshan Hiranandani admitted to his close relationship with TMC MP Mahua Moitra and claimed that she had shared her Parliament login ID credentials with him.

“She drafted a few questions that she could raise in parliament that would have elements to embarrass the Govt and target the Adani group. She shared with me her email ID as MP, so I could send her information and she could raise the questions. I went along with her proposal” he claims in his affidavit.”

Darshan Hiranandani also claimed that he used the TMC MP’s login credentials to pose questions on the Adani group himself.

Responding to the affidavit, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, in a two-page statement, alleged that the businessman was forced to sign the “white paper.”

(Disclaimer: New Delhi Television is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company.)

New Delhi:

BJP leader Amit Malviya late last evening took a jibe at Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, saying that her party has “abandoned” her amid a huge row over allegations that she took bribes for asking questions in parliament.

He also alleged that Trinamool Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has maintained silence whenever its leaders are arrested. 

“It is not surprising that Mamata Banerjee has abandoned Mahua Moitra. She will defend no one else but Abhishek Banerjee, who is no less delinquent… Several TMC leaders are in jail on serious corruption and criminal charges but Mamata Banerjee has maintained radio silence,” Amit Malviya said on X – earlier known as Twitter.

Trinamool Congress yesterday refused to comment on the controversy surrounding Mahua Moitra. “The party has nothing to say on this issue. We think the person around whom this controversy is revolving is best suited to react to this,” Trinamool’s West Bengal general secretary and spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said.

Party sources say that the party doesn’t want to get involved in the controversy and hence will be maintaining a distance.

Mahua Moitra is accused of receiving Rs 2 crore in cash from businessman Darshan Hiranandani for asking questions in parliament.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking a probe into the allegations that Ms Moitra received bribes from the businessman and also gave him her parliament login credentials.  

Mr Dubey yesterday also wrote to the Lokpal and sought an investigation into the Trinamool Congress MP’s actions. In his complaint to the anti-corruption authority, Mr Dubey has said he is in possession of a letter by Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai which laid out “disturbing facts with detailed proof” against Ms Moitra.

“In the letter, Mr Dehadrai provides in great detail how, when and where Ms Moitra received bribes from a businessman Sh Darshan Hiraanandani,” the complaint said.

Darshan Hiranandani has claimed that Ms Moitra made frequent demands of him and asked him for various favours, including gifting her expensive luxury items. The businessman also alleged the MP had given him her parliament login credentials and that she saw attacking the Adani Group as a way to become famous.

Calling the allegations very serious, the head of the Ethics Committee, Vinod Sonkar, said that the committee will first examine Mr Dubey’s letter and Mr Hiranandani’s affidavit. We will then also hear Ms Moitra’s version, who has vehemently denied the charges and said she is prepared for any inquiry.

Ms Moitra has denied the allegations and said she is ready to face questions from the Lok Sabha’s Ethics Committee.

BJP leader Amit Malviya late last evening took a jibe at Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, saying that her party has “abandoned” her amid allegations that she took bribes for asking questions in parliament.

He also alleged that Trinamool Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has maintained silence whenever its leaders are arrested.

“It is not surprising that Mamata Banerjee has abandoned Mahua Moitra. She will defend no one else but Abhishek Banerjee, who is no less delinquent… Several TMC leaders are in jail on serious corruption and criminal charges but Mamata Banerjee has maintained radio silence,” Amit Malviya said on X – earlier known as Twitter.

Trinamool yesterday refused to comment on the controversy surrounding Mahua Moitra. “The party has nothing to say on this issue. We think the person around whom this controversy is revolving is best suited to react to this,” Trinamool’s West Bengal general secretary and spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said.

Party sources say that the party doesn’t want to get involved in the controversy and hence will be maintaining a distance.

Mahua Moitra is accused of receiving Rs 2 crore in cash from businessman Darshan Hiranandani for asking questions in Parliament.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has written to the Lokpal and sought an investigation into the Trinamool Congress MP’s actions.

In his complaint to the anti-corruption authority, Mr Dubey has said he is in possession of a letter by Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai which laid out “disturbing facts with detailed proof” against Ms Moitra.

“In the letter, Mr. Dehadrai provides in great detail how, when and where Ms. Moitra received bribes from a businessman Sh. Darshan Hiraanandani,” the complaint said.

In his affidavit to the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, Mr Hiranandani claimed that Ms Moitra made frequent demands of him and asked him for various favours, including gifting her expensive luxury items. The businessman also alleged the MP had given him her Parliament login credentials and that she saw attacking the Adani Group as a way to become famous.

Calling the allegations very serious, the head of the Ethics Committee, Vinod Sonkar, said that the committee will first examine Mr Dubey’s letter and Mr Hiranandani’s affidavit. We will then also hear Ms Moitra’s version, who has vehemently denied the charges and said she is prepared for any inquiry.

Ms Moitra has denied the allegations and said she is ready to face questions from the Lok Sabha’s Ethics Committee.

New Delhi:

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, in a two-page statement and five questions, shredded the affidavit of businessman Darshan Hiranandani, alleging that the Prime Minister’s Office “held a proverbial gun” to his head and made him sign the white paper that was later “leaked to the press”.

“Darshan Hiranandani has not been summoned by the CBI or the Ethics Committee or indeed by any investigative agency yet. Who then has he given this affidavit to,” she said in the statement posted on X, formerly Twitter.  

Questioning if it was indeed an affidavit from the businessman, Ms Moitra pointed out that it was neither on a official letterhead or notarized. It was not posted on social media by him but was “leaked selectively to the media,” she said in the statement posted on X, formerly Twitter.  

Calling it a “selective leak of a plea bargain”, Ms Moitra said this is part of the establishment’s witch hunt into every political leader who dares question Adani”.

Mr Hiranandani’s affidavit claimed Ms Moitra had asked for help to politically target Prime Minister Narendra Modi and use the Adani group for a smear campaign against him. He claimed she has also given him her parliament login ID to frame questions on the Adani Group.

Mahua Moitra thought the “only way” to attack PM Modi was by attacking Gautam Adani, and so she “expected support”, the affidavit read. For this, she shared her parliament login ID so he could frame the questions, Mr Hiranandani said. He went along with the idea because he thought through her, he would get support in the Opposition-ruled states, he wrote.

He also claimed the Trinamool MP received support from others in this effort, including journalists, Opposition leaders and former Adani Group employees, who fed her unverified information. In this context, he had named several people including journalist Sucheta Dalal, who has denied the allegations.

Last week, the BJP’s Nishikant Dubey, in a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, demanded immediate suspension of Ms Moitra, alleging that she “took bribes to ask questions” in parliament from Darshan Hiranandani to target his business rival, the Adani group, and PM Modi.

Accusing Ms Moitra of breach of parliamentary privilege, contempt of House and criminal conspiracy, he sought her immediate suspension from parliament.

The Hiranandani Group had lost energy and infra contract to the Adani Group and Ms Moitra’s questions were directed at perpetuating the business interests of the former, Mr Dubey alleged in his letter to Mr Birla.

His complaint has been referred by the Speaker to Parliament’s Ethics Committee.

Ms Moitra had denied the allegations, saying she welcomes any kind of inquiry.

(Disclaimer: New Delhi Television is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company.)

New Delhi:

In a big twist in the alleged ‘cash for query’ scam, businessman Darshan Hiranandani has claimed that he used Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra’s Parliament login ID to ask questions targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Adani Group.

Mr Hiranandani – in a signed affidavit – claimed that Ms Moitra “made frequent demands” including “expensive luxury items and logistical help for her holidays.” His affidavit also claimed that she had interactions with many Congress leaders, “including Rahul Gandhi, on matters relating to Adani companies”.

Here are 10 stunning revelations made by Darshan Hiranandani on Mahua Moitra:

1. 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 Modi.
2. Ms Moitra thought that the only way to attack PM Modi is by attacking Gautam Adani as both were contemporaries, and they belong to the same state of Gujarat.
3. She drafted a few questions that would have elements to embarrass the government by targeting the Adani group.
4. She shared with me her email ID as a Member of Parliament, so that I could send her information, and she could raise the questions in the Parliament. She later provided me her Parliament login and password so that I could post the questions directly.
5. There were others who were also assisting her in this targeted attack. She had interactions with many Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, on matters relating to the Adani companies.
6. She also had frequent interactions with international journalists from the Financial Times, the New York Times, the BBC and also with several Indian publications.
7. She also received unverified details from several sources, including some claiming to be former Adani group employees. Certain information was shared with me, based on which I continued to post questions using her Parliamentary login.
8. I felt that, through her, I would get support in other States ruled by the Opposition, because she bonded extremely well with other leaders of the Opposition like Mr Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor and Pinaki Mishra,
9. She made frequent demands of me and kept asking me for various favours. This included gifting her expensive luxury items, providing support on the renovation of her officially allotted bungalow in Delhi, travel expenses, holidays, etc, apart from providing secretarial and logistical help for her travels within India and to different parts of the world.
10. Many a times, I felt that she was taking undue advantage of me and pressurising me to do things I didn’t want to, but I had no choice, because of the aforementioned reasons.

Mahua Moitra “took bribes to ask questions” in Parliament on behalf of businessman Darshan Hiranandani to target the Adani group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Dubey alleged last week. Ms Moitra has denied the allegations and said she is prepared for any inquiry.

(Disclaimer: New Delhi Television is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company.)