Cash-For-Query: Mahua Moitra To Appear Before Ethics Committee On 2 November, Drops Media Houses From Defamation Case

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra announced her willingness to appear before the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee on 2 November. However, she also expressed her desire to cross-examine businessman Darshan Hiranandani regarding the allegations made against her in the cash-for-query case.

Moitra had initially requested a hearing date after 5 November due to her existing commitments but was denied an extension beyond 2 November, NDTV reported.

On Tuesday, she questioned the appropriateness of the Ethics Committee as the forum to examine allegations of alleged criminality. She highlighted that parliamentary committees lack criminal jurisdiction and emphasised the importance of involving law enforcement agencies in such cases.

While registering her protest, she confirmed her intention to respect the summons and appear before the Committee on 2 November 2023 at 11 am.

Earlier today, she decided to exclude media houses from defamation lawsuit over cash-for-query allegations and now seeks permission to file a new list of defendants, which only includes BJP's Nishikant Dubey and advocate Jai Dehadrai.

The Delhi High Court has instructed Dubey and Dehadrai to submit a response and has scheduled the case for a hearing on 5 December, Money Control reported.

During the last hearing, Moitra's lawyer, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, withdrew from the case. This occurred after Dehadrai informed the high court that the senior counsel had attempted to mediate between him and the Trinamool MP on the eve of the hearing, but he declined the offer.