Mahua Moitra Files Defamation Suit Against BJP's Nishikant Dubey, Lawyer Jai Dehadrai For Alleging That She Took 'Bribes' For Questions In LS

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has filed a defamation suit in the Delhi High Court against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey, Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai, and various media organisations.

Dubey and Dehadrai had alleged that Moitra had accepted "bribes" in exchange for asking questions in the Lok Sabha.

The case was presented before Justice Sachin Datta, and the court scheduled a hearing for Friday (20 October).

Jai Anant Dehadrai, reportedly an estranged partner of Mahua Moitra, is currently embroiled in a dispute with the Trinamool Congress MP regarding the custody of their pet dog.

Moitra has filed multiple police complaints against Dehadrai in the past six months, accusing him of criminal trespass, theft, sending vulgar messages, and abuse.

Nishikant Dubey, who had written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla accusing Moitra of accepting "bribes" from businessman Darshan Hiranandani, has also urged Union Minister for Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw to investigate the IP addresses associated with Moitra's parliamentary log-in credentials.

Dubey alleged that lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai had provided "irrefutable evidence of bribes exchanged" between Moitra and Darshan Hiranandani.

In response, Moitra posted on the social media platform X, stating, "I am using all my ill-gotten cash & gifts to buy a college/university where Degree Dubey can finally purchase a genuine degree. Please @ombirlakota @loksabhaspeaker, complete the inquiries against him for false affidavits and then establish an inquiry committee for me."

The Hiranandani Group refuted the allegations, asserting that there is "no merit" to the claims. The group emphasised its focus on business activities and collaboration with the government for the nation's benefit.

On Tuesday (17 October), Lok Sabha Speaker referred Dubey's complaint against Moitra to the ethics committee of the lower House, chaired by BJP member Vinod Kumar Sonkar.