'Parliamentary Committees Have No Mandate to Investigate Alleged Criminality': Mahua Moitra In A Letter To Panel Days Before Her Hearing

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has expressed her belief that the Lok Sabha ethics committee lacks the authority to investigate allegations of criminality in the cash-for-query controversy.

She released her response ahead of her appearance before the committee, asserting that she is compelled to do so since the committee had made her summons public.

Moitra claimed that the founding fathers of the nation intentionally omitted the power to probe alleged criminal activities from parliamentary committees to prevent potential misuse by governments with a strong parliamentary majority.

She also reiterated her demand to cross-examine businessman Darshan Hiranandani, who has alleged that Moitra used his questions in Parliament and allowed him to use her parliamentary login ID and password to post queries from Dubai.

Such actions, if proven, could lead to a breach of parliamentary privilege and result in her suspension from Parliament.

Moitra stressed that parliamentary ethics committees are not the appropriate forums to examine allegations of criminality, as they lack criminal jurisdiction and investigative mandates.

She emphasised that law enforcement agencies should handle investigations into alleged criminal activities.

Moitra is scheduled to appear before the ethics committee, and she has urged the committee to ensure an impartial and fair process without room for political partisanship.

She pointed out that the committee has not formulated a code of conduct for members, and the committee has had limited sittings in the past two years. Given the absence of a structured code of conduct, she underscored the importance of addressing each case objectively and fairly.

The ethics committee is expected to provide its report to the Lok Sabha Speaker as soon as possible, as it did in the 2005 cash-for-questions scandal.

In that case, the report was submitted within two weeks, despite the United Progressive Alliance government being in power at the time.