Mahua Moitra Blames "Sour Personal Relationship" For Cash-For-Query Allegations Before Parliamentary Ethics Committee

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra informed the parliamentary ethics committee today (2 November) that a "sour personal relationship" was the driving force behind the complaint filed against her regarding alleged cash-for-query activities, according to NDTV sources familiar with the matter.

Moitra has referred to Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai, who filed the complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), as her "jilted ex."

While she has denied the allegations of involvement in cash-for-query, she acknowledged providing her parliamentary login ID to businessman Darshan Hiranandani.

During the proceedings today, Opposition MPs within the ethics committee reportedly supported her position. They emphasised that the login ID was used solely for posting questions and raised no national security concerns, according to sources.

Opposition MPs inquired whether every MP independently posts questions without any assistance.

The ethics committee summoned her based on reports from three ministries, along with supporting documents and evidence.

The committee recorded her statement earlier today and will conduct further questioning this evening.

The BJP had raised concerns about national security in connection with the sharing of her official login credentials.

Following the complaint filed with the CBI by Dehadrai, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had led the call for an investigation into the allegation that Moitra received bribes from Hiranandani to target the Adani Group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The ethics committee hearing is further supported by the revealing affidavit of Hiranandani. While he remained silent on the cash-for-query issue, he admitted to posting questions using Moitra's parliamentary login.

If proven, this would constitute a breach of parliamentary privilege and could lead to her expulsion from the house. In his affidavit, he stated that the gifts he provided to Moitra were in response to her request to politically target PM Modi through the Adani Group.