News Brief
Enforcement Directorate Summons TMC's Mahua Moitra, Darshan Hiranandani In Foreign Exchange Violation Case: Report
TMC Leader Mahua Moitra
Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra has reportedly been again summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in connection with an alleged foreign exchange violation case as per a report by NDTV.
According to the same report, ED is also seeking clarification from Moitra regarding transactions associated with a non-resident external (NRE) account, as well as several instances of foreign remittances and fund transfers.
This summons marks the third time the ED has called upon the former Krishnanagar Lok Sabha MP for questioning.
The recent summons follows a raid by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on her property regarding the cash-for-query case.
This action came after the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal directed the federal agency to investigate allegations made against her by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.
This incident led to Moitra's contentious expulsion from Parliament in December.
A parliamentary ethics panel had previously deemed Moitra's conduct as "immoral and indecent."
She stands accused of accepting Rs 2 crore in cash, along with "luxury gift items," from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to pose critical questions about the government in Parliament. Additionally, she is accused of sharing login details to her confidential account on the parliament website.
Darshan Hiranandani has also been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate for questioning.
Despite refuting the bribery accusations, Moitra has admitted to sharing website credentials, arguing that such practices are common among MPs. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear this case in May.
Trinamool Congress has re-nominated Moitra to contest from the Krishnanagar seat, which she won in the 2019 election with nearly 45 per cent of the total votes. She will face off against Amrita Roy, the Rajmata of a local royal family, whom the BJP is banking on to secure a seat that it has won only once since the constituency first voted in 1967.
